One of the priority trends of activity of the regional branch of "Southern Telecommunications Company" PJSC - "Svyazinform" of the Astrakhan region" is the development of urban and rural telephone networks. At present the branch operates 191 electronic and coordinate automatic telephone exchanges. 15 digital automatic telephone exchanges were put into operation in 2003 including 3 - in urban TN and 12 - in rural TN. The greatest number of telephone lines were put into service in Akhtubinski, Kharabalinski and Kamyzyakski districts. Digital exchange of NEAX-61 type with capacity of 10 500 lines was put into operation in Akhtubinski district, digital exchange of SI-2000 type with capacity of 1 536 lines was put into operation in Kharabalinski district, remote line concentrator from Astrakhan EWSD with capacity of 3312 numbers was mounted in Kamyzyak. The branch conducts active construction of optical communication lines. In 2003 88 km of optical cable were laid, a 46 km-increase over 2002. Total length of fiber optic lines reached 2,857.3 km. Town Ikryanoye is now connected to the inter-zonal network via fiber optic lines. At present people living in Limanski, Ikryaninski and Kamyzyakski districts as well as in Astrakhan enjoy qualitative telephone services through fiber optic cable.

Digital technologies are being actively introduced. Share of digital automatic telephone exchanges makes 62,6 % of the total installed capacity. Obsolete cross-bar telephone exchanges were replaced by new digital ones in towns and villages of Kamyzyakski, Chernoyarski, Ikryaninski, Volodarski, Narimanovski and Privolzhski districts. Now their inhabitants can use value-added services and Internet. In order to install telephones without construction of linear facilities, DECT radio access system "Goodwin - Borodino" was put into service. As a result people living in Akhtubinsk, Astrakhan and Volodarski district gained an access to telephone network.

The branch pays great attention to installation of telephones in distant areas of the Astrakhan region. Sites of telephone installations are to be approved by local administrations. During the previous year telephones were installed in 70 localities. 35 radio telephones were purchased and installed in distant villages and localities difficult of access.