Modernization will be carried out through replacement of all obsolete pay-phones making only local calls with new universal stations of «Telecart»-type making local, domestic and international long-distance telephone calls and using a universal pre-paid phone card.

As at 1.01.04. the telephone network of UTK branch «Rostovelectrosvyaz» was equipped with 5734 pay-phones, 1769 of them — being universal ones. Amount of Rostov-on-Don pay-phone base is 3000 stations including 824 universal pay-phones. As the pay-phone base is being updated, the universal UTK pre-paid phone card will be introduced This universal UTK card will be used all over the territory of the Southern federal district without any restrictions.

Simultaneously with modernization the amount of pay-phone base will be optimized by reduction of unprofitable pay-phones. By the end of 2004 4100 new universal pay-phones are expected to be put into service in «Rostovelectrosvyaz» telephone network. One more reason for optimization of pay-phones? number is the reduction of damages related to pay-phone vandalism.

In addition to provision of all kinds of telephone calls, new phones of «Telecart»-type will be equipped with the protection block preventing unauthorized connections of malefactors.