Starting from 27th October 2008, the Avangard + PC programme was launched in all regions of the Northwestern Federal District, within the framework of which subscribers of OJSC N.W. Telecom can get connected to the Avangard service at special rates and buy a mini notebook (netbook) on profitable terms – on an installment basis.  

In order to take part in the programme, a subscriber of OJSC N.W.Telecom must enter into a contract for the use of the Avangard Internet broadband access service under one of the limitless rate plans for a period of 6 or 12 months. Immediately upon entering into the contract, the subscriber may acquire* a notebook on an installment basis for the period of the contract (i.e. for 6 or 12 months).

The initial payment for the notebook is 1800 or 3600 roubles, the monthly fee for the 6 months' contract is   1700 or 1400 roubles and that for 12 months is 1400 or 700 roubles depending on the amount of the initial payment .

The model of the mini notebook that a subscriber may acquire under the Avangard + PC programme has the following characteristics: 10" monitor, Intel Atom® process or,   512 megabyte main memory, 80 gigabyte HDD, in-built video camera 0.3 M and a Wi-Fi interface**. The weight of the mini notebook   is less than 1 kg.

Besides, starting from 27th October , OJSC N.W. Telecom is reducing the rate of the limitless rate plans of the Avangard service (except for economy rates) for participants of the programme (except for the St. Petersburg and Arkhangelsk branches***):

- by 10% if the contract is made for 6 months,

- by 15% if the contract is made for 12 months.

The subscribers who have been already using the Avangard service may also take part in the Avangard + PC programme by entering into a fixed-term contract for 6 or 12 months.

"Avangard + PC is the first programme of this kind in Russia and is an important step in forming the computer technologies market. For the first time an operator becomes a channel of computer s sales, and the subscriber gets for the first time the opportunity to get both the Internet access service and all the equipment for getting that service from "one window", Igor Sysoyev, Corporate Business Development Director of Intel's Russian representative office, said.

"OJSC N.W. Telecom is closely monitoring the development of the today's telecommunications market . Our joint offer with Intel is intended for active users of the Internet who want to have a lightweight portable computer Today OJSC N.W. Telecom offers its clients both the access to the service and a convenient up-to-date tool of using it. Later, we are planning to expand the offer concerning the model range of notebooks", Oleg Popov, Deputy General Manager – the Commercial Manager of OJSC N.W.Telecom , noted.   

An application for participation in the Avangard + PC programme may be filed at any Point of Sales and Clients Servicing of OJSC N.W.Telecom , at the product website of the Avangard service www.avangard-dsl.ru , and at the information and support service of OJSC N.W.Telecom in the subscriber's residence region.

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*A notebook can be bought when connecting to the Avangard service at Points of Sales and Clients Servicing of OJSC N.W.Telecom or when ordering the "Turn-key" service (the terms are set forth in detail at the websites of regional branches ).

** The in-built Wi-Fi interface provides an easy connection to the wireless access network.

*** A new scale of rate plans introduced on 28th August 2008 ( see the press release of 01.09.2008 ), stays in effect in the St. Petersburg branch; the current rates are retained in the Arkhangelsk branch; a notebook can be bought on the instalment basis, provided a fixed-term contract for 6 or 12 months is signed.

The General Manager of OJSC N.W.Telecom also emphasized the social role of the Company which has been successfully implementing most important socially significant and state projects in the Northwestern Federal District on the annual basis.