Moscow, March 24, 2010. CenterTelecom OJSC and Smolensk region's administration have concluded a cooperation agreement. The agreement has been signed by Sergei Antufiev, Governor of Smolensk Region, and Vaagn Martirosyan, General Director, CenterTelecom.

The signed document regulates the parties' interaction and cooperation issues in the field of development of information and telecommunications infrastructure of Smolensk region used for implementation of priority national projects, Electronic Russia Federal Target Program (2002-2010), and regional IT programs. The agreement is also to contribute to solving of other important social and economic tasks related to Smolensk region's telecommunications, and to development of unified information space which would be a basis of regional information society and "electronic government's system."

It is worth adding that currently a broadband multi-service network is operating in Smolensk region. The network provides high speed Internet access and reliable data transmission, as well as other newest services. Consistent and purposeful improvement of the fixed line communications network infrastructure allows CenterTelecom to expand its product range even in rural areas. Implementation of a program of construction of broadband network based on ADSL and FTTx technologies will allow the company's subscribers to get broadband Internet access not only in Smolensk but also in other localities of the region.

In accordance with the signed agreement the parties set up the following tasks for development of the region's telecommunications infrastructure:

- Improvement of network information and telecommunications infrastructure of Smolensk region aimed at expansion of Internet access services provided to regional educational institutions

- Interaction of the parties in the course of implementation of the regional and federal target information and telecommunications programs

- Development of a joint program aimed at development of legal and business information network through regional and municipal libraries of the region

- Provision of Internet access and TV broadcasting services by means of construction of broadband networks (FTTH) in Smolensk, Vyazma, Gagarin, Safonovo, Roslavl, Yartsevo, Desnogorsk and Dorogobuzh in 2010-2013

- Arrangement of VPN, audio and video conferences, high speed protected data transmission channels and provision of other newest telecommunications services to the region's administration.