OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2009. Kazakhtelecom (Astana), a company listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), provided KASE with a press release, reported the press-centre of KASE:

Committee for economical reform and regional development a body in the Mazhilis of the Parliament had a visiting meeting to get acquainted with Kazakhtelecom's operation. Deputies lead by the committee chairman Vladimir Bobrov visited sites of Astanatelecom (a branch of Kazakhtelecom). Lawmakers and managers of the agency for informatization and telecommunications of Kazakhstan and Kazakhtelecom discussed further development of the national telecommunications operator and telecommunications market.

In particular, mazhilismen visited Center for operative control of telecommunications network of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Agency for service of individuals, demonstration hall "Show-room", Internet Data Center and Studio for video-conferences "TelePresence". Deputies looked into business and financial highlights of Y2008 and development prospects.

Last year saw completion of a large construction project of National Information Supermagistral (NIS). Currently 12,400 km. NIS connects all regional centers, Almaty and Astana involving digital flows through 119 towns, regional centers and villages.

All electrified and prospective rural settlements were telephonized within the State program for rural area development. 200 stations were installed and over 57,000 subscribers were connected in over 600 villages under the Project for modernization and development of rural telecommunications using CDMA.

Under the Project for transfer to Next Generation Network a Project for multiservice telecommunications network of Ishim's left bank was completed in 2008 in Astana. NGN were launched in Petropavlovsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semey and Shymkent. Kazakhtelecom began to build NGN in Atyrau, Kokshetau and Aktobe. NGN network total capacity was 712,066 subscribers in 2008.

Internet Data Centers were opened in Astana, Almaty and Karaganda. Broadband Internet access users' number (including subsidiaries) grew 2.2 times, exceeding 660,000 individuals. It should be noted that aimed and active support of Internet development had first significant effect last year. Company internal and external traffic was balanced for the first time. Megaline internal traffic (individuals) was less 10 % at the beginning of 2008, and in December it reached 56 %.

Kazakhtelecom entered a three side alliance with leading Chinese and Russian operators. The alliance intends to provide transit capacities through partners' land networks between Asia and Europe.

Successful implementation of the projects for extension of active and building new network joints with leading operators of bordering countries allowed Kazakhtelecom in 2008 to begin provide large volume transits Europe - Kazakhstan - Asia. Transit volume sales increased 4 times as compared with 2007.

In 2008 services for all Kazakhtelecom group brought KZT142.286 bn. increasing 11.4 % compared with 2007. Net profit reached KZT31.390 bn.

The Kazakhtelecom group development strategy for 2008-2017 elaborated on the basis of recommendations of a leading consultancy company Ernst & Young was approved by Kazakhtelecom's Directors last year. The strategy says the group aims to increase its shareholder value, retain leading positions in telecommunications and build an optimal organizational structure. To achieve such goals the Group must complete a number of priority tasks: improve infrastructure and services; develop Internet broadband access service; introduce new added value services; boost mobile market; enter foreign markets.

Deputies studied the following prospective projects: NGN implementation; CDMA based rural telecommunications development; Internet broadband access; SIP-protocol based telephony (ID Phone), digital interactive television IPTV (ID TV), hosting (ID Host); conversion of fixed and mobile  telecommunications (FMC); EV- DO based wireless access development.

Deputies considered a number of problems; one is additional radio-channel to implement a breakthrough CDMA based rural telecommunications network  project. Additional radio-channel will allow to support many voice service users on one CDMA station. Besides, using additional radio-channel for data transfer will allow for fast connection of rural subscribers to the Internet.

Deputies had a constructive dialogue with the Kazakhtelecom's management and expressed their readiness to support the company seeking solutions for the problems.