ROS NYSE: OCTOBER: Rostelecom Satellite Communication Initiatives
AUTHOR: MARIA BREITER
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, U.S. & FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 1998. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
Rostelecom, the Russia's major operator of communications networks, is starting to penetrate in satellite communications with the following major projects:
- North East project. The purpose of this project is to improve communications within the remote areas in the north-eastern part of Russia by replacing the existing tropospheric radio relay line built in 1970's. The first stage of the project uses a 103 degrees satellite (jointly with NPO Crosna). Presently, there is a satellite communications system in place connecting Khabarovsk, Magadan, Yakutsk and Tiksi. In the future, the rest of the area will be covered.
- GlobalTel is the second satellite project that involves construction of Rostelecom's "superhighways" linking major Russian cities with Europe and Asia. By the end of 1999, all long distance exchanges of local carriers will have access to the digital network via transit nodes, via terrestrial digital lines or via satellite network.
- The third project will be done jointly with Lockheed-Martin-Intersputnik (LMI). At the end of 1998, LMI-1 A2100AX series (1,730 kg in weight) satellite is to be put into 75 degrees of eastern longitude over the Indian Ocean and will cover the entire territory of former Soviet Union (except Kamchatka), as well as Africa, Eastern Europe, and South and South-East Asia. It will be commissioned into operation in the first quarter of 1999 and will have a service life estimated at 15 years. The satellite will be launched from a Proton D-1E. The cost of the launch and insurance will be about US$100 million. Rostelecom has purchased 25 transponders on the satellite (out of total of 44), 34 Mgbit each. In 1998, Rostelecom will build 26-30 ground stations in the Russian areas inaccessible by terrestrial digital communications lines.
In July 1998, LMI announced its latest project- creation of a global satellite communications system. According to the TEC NIS Newsletter, the project is scheduled over four years and involves the manufacture and launch of four new-generation satellites to establish a telecommunications service system with worldwide coverage and the capability to provide a complete range of services. The system will offer - besides the traditional TV, radio and telephone services - dedicated satellite networks (using VSAT technology), TV distribution networks, high-speed data transmission networks (including multimedia), mobile communications, and broad-band trunk channels. The overall cost of the project will be over US$1 billion.
In May, 1997, Teleport-TP company, established by Rostelecom and the Irish company Technocom Ltd., announced the start of use of Satelink, all-Russia digital satellite communications network. The network is established using Intelsat 704 satellite that covers over 80 percent of the Russian territory. Teleport-TP established a number of satellite ground stations. For this network, the company purchased Skylinx equipment from Scientific Atlanta. Teleport-TP clients included regional PSTN operators, large enterprises with a number of branches, commercial banks, and Internet providers. Khantymansiysktelecom (Surgut, Russia), Tatarstan Ministry of Communications, Svyazinform (Astrakhan), and Dagestaninform (Makhachkala) are using Teleport-TP channels.
There is a number of local broadcasting companies that lease satellite facilities. For instance, MIR Intergovernmental TV and radio company leases a transponder of Intelsat and uses earth stations located in 11 cities of the Former Soviet Union with a central teleport in Moscow. MIR was founded in 1992 by Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. MIR is engaged in production and distribution of TV and radio programs as well as satellite broadcasting of TV and radio, and leasing of satellite communication channels. The company holds licenses for both broadcasting and telecommunications, including data transmission, local and trunk telephony, and videoconferencing.
A number of telecommunications service providers, such as Combellga, Comstar, Direct Net, and many others lease capacity for providing international voice services. Combellga is one of the first telecommunications companies organized in Russia in 1991, at the initial stage of economic reforms. The shareholders are: Alcatel Bell Telephone, manufacturer of telecom equipment, Belgacom (Belgian PTT), an operator, Comincom Russian joint stock company, and MGTS (Moscow PSTN). Combellga provides its services to more than 3,500 business customers in Moscow, including hotels and business centers, multinational corporations, embassies, international organizations, and TV, radio and press agencies. All international calls are routed through two independent satellite earth stations (capacity leased from Eutelsat) and Baltic optical cables.
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Russian national long-distance carrier Rostelecom has leased 25 channels from the LMI-1 satellite. The channels to be leased will have a total capacity of 4.5 gigabits per second and will be used to modernize and expand Russia's trunk telephone network. Rostelecom plans to build between 26 and 30 ground stations to provide telecommunication services to remote and underserved areas of Russia. The stations will be installed at all automatic switched communications nodes and in towns which do not receive digital flows via terrestrial facilities, except Far Eastern peninsula of Kamchatka, which lies beyond the LMI-1 footprint. The channels will also be used as a reserve for fiber-optic networks and for emergency situations.
SOURCE: itaiep.doc.gov
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