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Telekom Serbia cites investment plans, denies blocking Internet development |
Belgrade, 10 May, 2002 - "Regarding the statements made by Branislav Andjelic, director of the government Agency for IT Development and Internet, which are not based on facts, and were published in a report entitled 'Telekom is blocking the Internet in Serbia,' we publish the following statement, with no intent of getting involved in any controversy:
"Telekom Serbia is a company that has invested substantially into its capacities. In 2002, Telekom plans to invest 15,062,604,770 dinars, which is 249,339,000 euros. The funds will be used to expand and digitalize the fixed network, and further develop mobile communications and the Internet.
"In 2002, we plan to install 316,206 equivalent subscriber hookups into the fixed network, the systems of Alcatel, Siemens, and the domestic industry. Of this number, 253,894 will be ordinary subscriber hookups and 18,494 basic ISDN, of which each has the capacity for 30 simultaneous telephone lines.
"We have planned an additional 89,346 lines for hookups with other exchanges, in order to improve communications and enable connections with new as well as old systems.
"The mobile network has one million users; a modern exchange has been opened in Novi Sad with 400,000 lines, and one just like it will open in Kragujevac in June. We will increase the number of basic stations from 121 to 334 and make deals on roaming with 130 operators in 2002.
"We have invested 154m dinars (2.5m euros) in the multi-service Internet network SMIN. This will enable the connection of 120,000 dial-up Internet subscribers to about 4,000 ports, under the same tariff terms. This means that users will have access to the Internet at the same tariff, regardless of which part of Serbia they dial from. A large part of these capacities will be available to Internet providers.
"As for voice over the Internet (VoLP), this is not under a monopoly according to EU criteria, as long as the service is not commercial and does not establish connections with telephones of the public telephone network. Telekom has noticed that some operators are abusing the VoLP, and instead of using it for their own purposes solely, have made it a commercial telephone service, which is against regulations and part of the gray economy, which Telekom will not support," the statement said.
Those who want more must pay
Telekom Serbia has been charged with breaking the law regarding the development of its capacities. We must observe that the allegation has no foundation in current laws. Namely, the regulations for communications systems, both the federal and republics' laws, render the operator's commitments conditional on its technical capabilities. If there are none, capacities can be built at the user's request, in which case the user bears the expense arising thereof. In spite of this, Telekom invests substantially into the development of communications resources, in line with its capacities and developmental plans.
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