Monopoly of Kazakhtelecom to be winded up on telecommunication market - the state head

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Astana, May 26, 06/ - The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev assumed on the necessity of liquidation of monopoly position of Kazakhtelecom on the communication market. "According to my data, there are about one million of Internet users in Kazakhstan. I am keeping my eye on this question. It is notable that Kazakhtelecom has reduced the Internet tariff two times at present (...), but the problem appears in the field of competitive environment in Kazakhstan. We must destroy monopoly of Kazakhtelecom, put in competitive environment, only then the market itself will reduce tariffs," - the state head said. "I think that (...) this point must be under consideration of the government currently, for the purpose more people can have access to Internet-net," - noted the president, while answering the questions of students of Eurasian university on Friday in Astana. Students' questions touched high prices of Internet services in Kazakhstan. As it was informed, Internet tariff has been decreased since April 1 by 47% at nighttime and at evening time - by 17%. Since June 1 tariff decrease will have taken place by 25%, and since September 1 - again by 25%. It is expected, that Internet net access tariff within 2006-2007 years will be reduced at average up to $0,64 per one hour. It is supposed in the state government that this will allow to reach 21.3% of computer literacy in the country up to 2009. At present about 450 th. people in Kazakhstan have access to Internet, that is 2.97% from the whole population or 5.8% from economically active population of the country. Above 15.2 m. people live in Kazakhstan. Kazakhtelecom at present is a leading communication operator in Kazakhstan. The company renders services to local, intercity voice telephony, information transition network services, Kulan sputnik network services, wire radio broadcasting and others. Currently the state owns 50%+1 share of Kazakhtelecom's shareholding, Bodam BV - 15.31%, Bank of NY - 9.28%, Central Asian Industrial Holdings NV - 8.65%. [2006-05-26]