Net income of Kazakhtelecom OJSC equaled KZT7.7bn in 2001

/IRBIS, Feb 13, 02/ - Kazakhstan today informs, with the reference to the PR service of Kazakhtelecom, that the company's net income in 2001 equaled KZT7.7bn, sales at KZT44.6bn. Income from primary activities on the basis of unaudited financial statements is said to have exceeded KZT44.6bn in 2001, with planned amount of KZT42bn and compared to 2000 income was increased by 16% or KZT6.2bn. Income growth is attributed to the expansion of the range of services offered by the company, improvement of traditional services, flexible tariff policy and general economic growth in the country. Tax and other payments of the company exceeded KZT13bn, is added. It is said that total investments of the company exceeded KZT11bn in 2001 and also according to the general development strategy and modernization program major tasks of switching to digital network, construction of fiber optic lines, replacement of analog stations to digital stations, restoration and development of rural telephone communication were fulfilled. The western branch of National information highway became the main event which also required the implementation of the design works on eastern branch of the highway with the length of 2.3 th. km, and it is to be completed by 2005. Also, the second International Communication Center (ICC) was put into service in Astana with 6,572 ports, and previous one was installed in Almaty. The National satellite communication network is almost finished, which will solve the rural communication problems and in 2001 a total of 20 satellite communication stations were installed and total number of stations reached 201 in four years, including 188 in rural areas. Last year city SDH networks in six regional centers have been installed, which totals it to 11 cities, and improved the quality of interstation communication and enabled all data transmission, is said. Total number of equipment installed in regional centers and cities in 2001 reached 186 th. The capacity of digital equipment in regional centers of 10 regions amounted to 32 th. and more than 191.6 th. telephones were installed, including 57.4 th. in rural areas. The number of paid phones reached 1,066, increasing the total number over 4.75 th. The telephones installed reached 1.94m, or 5.8% more than in 2000. The density is 13.1 telephones for 100 people, and in cities this figure increased from 18.7 to 19.4, and from 4.4 to 4.9 in rural areas. The sales volume is to reach KZT55bn in 2002, net income at KZT10bn. The eastern branch of information highway is being constructed, switching to digital equipment and modernization of telecommunication equipment is also continuing, and the density is to reach 48.2 telephones for 100 households. Total capacity installed will reach 2,377 th. numbers and number of customers to 1,997 th. More than 1 th. digital pay phones will be installed. Total investments into modernization and development telecommunication in 2002 is to reach KZT17bn, including $54m to be used in the development of local and inter regional communication of the company, is said. The system based on ISO 9000 quality control is being introduced, as well as the system of controlling the applications on telephone installations will be introduced. The company plans to receive international certificate on its services by late 2003 and keep introducing timely billing of telephone calls in 12 major cities of the country, was added.