OJSC N.W. Telecom has started providing universal telephone communication services using payphone s in the Republic of Karelia. The first 57 universal servicing payphone s were installed in Petrozavodsk and in 10 of the 17 district centers of the Republic.  

In compliance with the terms of the tender for the right of providing universal services of telephone communication using payphone s, in which OJSC N.W. Telecom became the winner in January 2007 (see Press Release of 02.02.2007 ), in 2007-2008 North-West Telecom will install 662 universal servicing payphone s in 620 settlements of Karelia.

It is expected that 42 payphone s with satellite communication and 227 payphone s with radio access will be installed in hard-to-reach settlements where there is no transportation network and stationary power supply networks.

A distinguishing feature of the universal service payphone is that it can be used not only to give a phone call – a free incoming call can be received to it, too.   Each payphone is assigned a telephone number, which is written on the phone use rules placed inside the phone semi-booth.

The price of a minute of local   connection for users of universal servicing payphone s in Karelia will be 55 kopecks and that of a minute of intraareal communication (within the Republic) 2 roubles 50 kopecks.   Long-distance and international telephone communication services via universal servicing payphone s will be provided at the rates of telecommunication operators.

The new service can be used by means of 100 and 50 roubles universal payment cards for universal communication services, that are sold by clients servicing centers of OJSC N.W. Telecom and by post offices of Karelia.

____________________

During 2006-2007 North-West Telecom has won competitions for the right of providing universal communication services in fact throughout the North-West of Russia (except for St. Petersburg). On the whole, the terms of the competitions provide for the installation of 14,688 payphones.