On March 11, 2010, a Supplement to the existing Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Komi and North-West Telecom was signed in Syktyvkar, related to prospects of communication development in the region for the year 2010. It was signed by Vyacheslav Gaizer, Head of the Republic of Komi, and Vladimir Akulich, General Manager of North-West Telecom.

In accordance with the Supplement to the Agreement, North-West Telecom agreed to ensure investments in the development and reconstruction of communication networks in the Republic of Komi of at least 230 million rubles. In 2010, the Republic’s multiservice network will be extended by at least 25,000 ports, of which 4,000 ports due to implementation of the PON technology (Passive Optical Network), which suggests laying a fiber optic communication line individually to each customer’s home.

Also, commissioning of the third stage of fiber optic communication lines will be completed in the Ukhta-Vuktyl span, and of the fourth stage, in the Ukhta-Troitsko-Pechorsk span.

The Head of Komi stated that the Republic’s Government was satisfied with the cooperation with N.W.Telecom; in 2009, North-West Telecom fulfilled all obligations under the signed Supplement to the Agreement. “It is difficult to name other sectors where implementation of joint projects is seen so clearly. We see prospects not only for today, but also for a long-term strategy. Any problems that may arise are solved along the way,” V. Gaizer said.

For his part, V. Akulich, General Manager of North-West Telecom, thanked the Head of the Republic for the high appraisal of the Company’s work. “This is largely an accomplishment not only of the Branch’s management, but also of the policy that has been pursued by the Administration of the Republic of Komi for the last six years,” commented Vladimir Akulich.

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The existing Agreement for Cooperation between N.W.Telecom and the Government of the Republic of Komi was signed in October 2004. The subject of the agreement was efficient cooperation of the Government of Komi and North-West Telecom in developing the region’s telecommunications. In April 2006, March 2007, March 2008, and March 2009, Supplements to the Agreement for Cooperation were signed, to determine the plans for communication development in Komi for every current year.

In 2009, the investments in the development and reconstruction of Komi's communication networks exceeded 516 million rubles. Fiber optic communication lines were commissioned in the spans Inta-Vorkuta (349 km), Ukhta-Troitsko-Pechorsk (327 km), Ukhta-Vuktyl (270 km), Ust’-Kulom-Pomozdino (28 km), for a total length of 1028 km.

The broadband access network in the Republic of Komi was extended by nearly 39,000 xDSL ports in 2009.