On February 27 "KostromaTelecom - prospects development" regional conference was held in Kostroma. The conference was dedicated to the introduction of modern telecommunication technologies and new communication services. Representatives of the regional government and companies as well as CenterTelecom management participated in it.

Y 2003 was successful for CenterTelecom branch - KostromaTelecom. Y 2003 key performance indicators reflect the synergy from the merger of 17 regional enterprises of Electrosvyaz in a uniform inter-regional company. Investments in the regional telecommunications increased several fold, about RUR 390 million of investments have been used. Networks reconstruction and upgrade rates increased significantly. The next section of the optical-fiber backbone from Kostroma to Sudislavl has been laid. New digital telephone exchanges were commissioned in Nerekht, Bui, Manturov, Makariev, and Sharie as well as in rural settlements. Modern service centers providing modern communication services, including Internet, were open in Makariev and Vetluzhskiy. Payphone development program in the rural areas is being carried out.

Conference participants evidenced the commissioning of a multiservice network in Kostroma, which came to be a significant event in the region.

The head of State Communications Supervisory Department for Kostroma region Valery Taranov solemnly presented the director of CenterTelecom Kostroma branch Andrey Saprykin with "The right to operate the Multiservice Network".

The multiservice network will allow to provide the local dwellers with a wide range of high quality telecommunication services: multichannel TV, digital telephone service, high-speed Internet, multichannel stereo wired radio broadcasting, etc.

The qualitatively new modern level of telecommunications in Kostroma and the regions became possible not only through CenterTelecom competent financial and technical policy, but also through constructive cooperation with the regional and local authorities. Within the framework of this cooperation, "Development of communication and information system of Kostroma region through 2010" target program passed by Kostroma regional Duma in 2002 is being successfully implemented.

In 2003 together with the Bulgarian specialists the company completely transferred the local telephone service to the digital standard in Mezhevsk district, telecommunications are being upgraded in Bui, Antropov, Bokhoma, Neisk, Parvenievsk, Susaninsk, Kologrivsk and several other districts.

Effective cooperation of the regional Duma, regional authorities and KostromaTelecom contributes to the realization of social programs, such as providing telephone service to the war veterans. In 2002 517 veterans were connected to telephone services, in 2003 - 425. As of today, all handicapped who submitted an application before May 1 last year received telephone network access. In 2002 about RUR 8.5 million were spent for these purposes. Communications providers were reimbursed RUR 5.7 million from the regional budget. Last year costs amounted to RUR 6 million (RUR 3.5 million of the amount came from the state funds).

During the conference, CenterTelecom Deputy General director and technical director Maxim Pegasov handed thank-you letters from CenterTelecom General Director Ruben Amaryan for the active support in resolving telecommunication development issues to the governor of Kostroma region Victor Shershunov and the head of Mezhevsk district Elena Khokhlova.

02.03.2004