Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Armen Grigoryan: Armenia lays claims to regional IT leadership

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Armen Grigoryan: Armenia lays claims to regional IT leadership

    news.am, Armenia
    Jan 7 2010


    Armen Grigoryan: Armenia lays claims to regional IT leadership

    14:09 / 01/07/2010Below is an interview with Armen Grigoryan,
    Secretary of the Council for IT Development

    NEWS.am: The 3G network was recently introduced in Armenia's
    telecommunication sector. It is unavailable even in Russia now. And 4G
    is even being talked about. In the context of certain activity, can we
    say Armenia is one of the regional IT leaders?

    A. Grigoryan: I can say that Armenia is on the right way rather than
    one of the regional leaders. Since our country is very small, I am
    sure it will become world leader in a couple of years. For example,
    the equipment the Orange Company is installing in Armenia is not
    operating even in France. They are faced with the problem of
    re-equipment there. In this aspect we, of course, will be leaders.

    NEWS.am: Competition between large companies has recently brought
    about obvious changes in customers' favor. The Orange Company's entry
    to our country had a great effect. Let us talk about it and its impact
    on Internet services development.

    A. Grigoryan: No doubt, Orange is Europe's leading company rendering
    new telecommunication services, especially various types of mobile
    communication ` mobile TV and others. It is an ordinary service in
    Europe. The companies that were informed of the Orange Company were
    well aware of that, which caused other companies, particularly
    VivaCell MTS, to start rendering the same services even before Orange
    came to Armenia and introduced its services. ArmenTel too is
    installing equipment to be able to compete with other companies. All
    that had rather serious influence on the market. Companies start
    rendering new services as soon as possible so as not to remain behind
    their rivals, which, under different circumstances, they may not have
    done during the coming two years.

    NEWS.am: At present, large mobile communication companies also render
    affordable wireless Internet services. What is Internet providers'
    future? Can we say the companies will `complete' their work during the
    coming few years?

    A. Grigoryan: Day after day Internet services are developing
    simultaneously with mobile communication services. Indeed, small
    Internet providers are now facing serious problems ` they cannot stand
    market competition and their offers, potential and investments are
    insufficient as compared with such giants as ArmenTel, VivaCell MTS
    and Orange Armenia or, say, ADC. The last named carried out tremendous
    work to render special Internet services ` it laid fiber-optic cables
    throughout Yerevan and so on. Competition causes companies to reduce
    their prices. Some representatives of small companies express fears
    about the dumping prices set by large companies, which makes the small
    ones' activities `unjustifiable.' Of course, large companies are able
    to make up for their losses due to revenues from other services.

    I think it is normal. It is international practice ` the market itself
    regulates everything. Unfortunately, the companies that cannot stand
    competition have to close down. On the other hand, I cannot conceal
    the fact that, several years ago, the same small companies received
    superprofits without doing anything. For example, they leased a 5GB
    channel and signed contracts with a `thousand' companies for up to
    20GB. That was fraud ` they disconnected some and connected others
    thereby ensuring superprofits for themselves. This time is past, and
    now every client wants to have round-the-clock Internet communication
    and buys this service from the provider ready to render it.

    Of course, some of the companies ` Arminco, Web ' are still working on
    the market. But they have to make huge investments to stand
    competition.

    NEWS.am: Mr. Grigoryan, what about Internet prices `are they high or
    low in Armenia? What is the price-quality relationship?

    A. Grigoryan: Price changes are evident, but it would be wrong to say
    that prices are best in Armenia. In any case, prices have rapidly been
    changing in Armenia over the last one or two years, showing a downward
    trend, with the Internet communication quality improving. Of course,
    was not fully satisfied with the quality of services. We will be
    satisfied after the prices go down to the international level. On the
    other hand, the development of Internet communication in Armenia is
    facing a number of problems, and we cannot compare with developed
    European countries. Traffic channels are an expensive treat. Also,
    Internet is affordable there ` the number of users is large, so the
    service is cheaper. But I would like to note that the positive
    dynamics is highly promising in Armenia. The development will reduce
    prices, and Internet services will be universally affordable. As
    regards the quality, companies have to ensure quality now. Otherwise
    they will lose their customers. People want to watch movies or talk by
    means of Skype, they are not contented with using e-mail alone. All
    the main services are now available for U.S. $30 in Armenia just as in
    other countries. The quality may be higher there, but I think the
    progress will be more appreciable in a year.

    NEWS.am: In this context, what is the role of the Government or of the
    Council for IT Development?

    A. Grigoryan: The Government's role is resolving political problems,
    which, in turn, helps resolve economic problems, especially such
    problems as the improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
    Larger-scale changes can be expected then. At present, ArmenTel is
    negotiating the laying of a fiber-optic cable from Turkey to Armenia,
    bypassing Georgia, with the Turkish side. If the problem is resolved,
    higher-quality Internet services will be available at a price twice as
    low. Such large companies as ArmenTel, VivaCell MTS and Orange Armenia
    have taken interest in this. It will quickly make Armenia a country
    where Internet services of European quality will be available.

    Our Councils' task is to ensure equal competition to prevent any
    violation of others' rights ` be it by the Government or by any
    private company.

    I would also like to address one more important task, namely,
    combining. High-speed Internet connection will enable any personal in
    any part of Yerevan to watch Armenian TV channels, have quick access
    to Armenian websites and so on. This all depends on the traffic inside
    the country. We have not a normal network inside the country. The
    Government is trying to contribute to this now. The RA Ministry of
    Economy elaborated a concept of forming an internal network. In
    Armenia, most of the information is outgoing to become incoming later.
    For instance, to get information by means of VivaCell you have to send
    a signal to the United States or Europe, which later returns to
    VivaCell. The problem can be resolved: VivaCell can be directly
    connected to Orange Armenia and vice versa. At present 90% of
    information leaves Armenia to return later because the country has not
    an internal network and proper combining conditions. The formation of
    an internal network will enhance the efficiency of equipment and
    reduce expenses.

    NEWS.am: What are your forecasts about the Armenian telecommunication
    industry for the next few years?

    A. Grigoryan: Since all the three mobile operators in Armenia are
    world-famous telecommunication companies, we will see further
    development. One more important factor, namely, the formation of
    Armenian content, can further this development. The Armenian content
    must be developed for the innovations to be available to any Armenian.

    T.P.
Working...
X