HIGH TECHNOLOGIES FOR AZERBAIJAN

Exclusive interview of general director of OmniTel Eldaniz Gasimov.

Mr. Gasimov, your company is young but it has already could recognize itself in telecommunication market as a reliable partner…

It is true that OmniTel was established at the beginning of 2004. Company began its mission from selling and setting of stationer cordless telephones' system for using in house conditions and autos. Turning point for company became the signing of agreement with Catel JV, according to which OmniTel became the master distributor of JV. Since that time OmniTel began to fulfill the selling, advertising and production's marketing and Catel JV services which firstly introduced in Azerbaijan CDMA mobile system. Such kind of procedure is practiced in the world. Company introducing the services does not sell them itself. The difference is that we are not only the distributor and the master distributor. I.e. we will appoint the dealers and distributors ourselves. And the process has already begun.

OmniTel company's structure developed in accordance with demands of modern market and gives the possibility to population in suing of CDMA system. Company's staff is high qualified due to which there was done big work on creation of distributor and dealer network. Company's plans are the opening of Express-Centers in the Azerbaijan regions for providing with all services spectrum for customers, beginning from purchasing of new telephones and its connecting to technique service and payment for the telephone conversation. The stated Express-centers had already been functioned in three places of Baku City and Sumgayit. There will be provided for customers at Express Centers with full services package (connecting to system, payment, repairing, representing to subscriber the information, connecting of extra services). At that Express-Centers will be opened at the same time with directional transmitters.

During the shortest time CDMA network covering was expanded and at present, the users of CDMA mobile system are able to use with high qualitative services in the territory of Baku, Apsheron peninsula, including Sumgayit. Until the end of present year, there is planned to provide with CDMA services the majority regions of Azerbaijan.

Will there be reflecting to Karat L.T. mission the receiving from CDMA-operator of master distributor status?

As you aware, we began our operation with Karat LT and fulfilled the selling of cellular like Maxon at markets. Thanks to Karat LT, now we are the master distributors.

Karat LT got the great place at the market by selling of cellular. We are continuing to work under the new projects. Till the end of year we plan to introduce new projects at the cellular market of Azerbaijan. Negotiation process is so long and difficult process in this connection, innovations will be introduced there.

At that time our company jointly with Catel feels itself as the first operator of CDMA network. It is new for Azerbaijan. Now, the world is going to pass to CDMA system. At that moment the CDMA successfully introduced in the countries of Europe, Baltic, also United States of America (7 operators) and Russia. CDMA covering makes approximately 40% of the worldwide vehicular communication market.

There are some features in CDMA which lack in network of other cellular operators. It is new technology and technologies, which are developed. There will be introduced the shocks services that will have great importance for Azerbaijan.

We would like to mention that as in case of Maxon sold by Karat the radiation of vehicular communication means of CDMA are minimal. If in case of Maxon the percentage of GSM facilities was 80%, then in case of CDMA this figure is 10-20%.

How does the company's rate policy will be made?

Since receiving of master distributor status OmniTel and Catel achieved mutual understandings regarding the providing on free of charge base approximately 20 types of additional services. As against of network of other cellular operators the billing - system (responds to subscribers' conversation system) of CDMA network will also be providing with extra functions. In comparison with the other serving vehicular communication operators in Azerbaijan it is possible to note that additionally to existent, in the nearest time the users of CDMA vehicular communication will be recognized with new acceptable and profitable services.

In the nearest future we will complete the operation by simplifying of payment for conversations. Subscribers will receive opportunity to fulfill the payment through the internet and credit cards.

Concerning the price formation of tariff scale in CDMA network I would like to emphasize that as against of other cellular operators the tariffs for conversations will be different. Our tariffs for international negotiations are less of existent. I guess that it will have positive reflection to subscribers, which can account its budget. In spite of this fact we plan to reduce the tariffs in further for international conversations, including the tariffs for in-house. Our company does not follow the aim to receive of momentary profit. We are ready to reduce of planning profit from entering of new technologies in Azerbaijan for Azerbaijani people is able to use the high technologies everywhere.

Are you ready for competition in new market?

We have never said that only we would operate in new market. Probably, there will be the companies which continue the introducing of CDMA technology. We will compete with them. For the shortest time CDMA completely covered Baku, Sumgayit, Apsheron with its peninsulas. At present, the largest oil companies operating in offshore wish use CDMA system.

Today, OmniTel together with Catel specialists participate in laborious operation by determination of new places of transmission stations. At present time, there has already defined the location of station in Gandja. Stations are considered for serving of 50.000 telephone subscribers. Now, the quantity of CDMA network subscribers exceeds 18.000. OmniTel is not going to increase the quality of subscribers more than the power of their transmission stations. At that moment, there was purchased 50 transmission stations for the regions of country by CDMA operator. I think that it will be enough for full covering of Azerbaijan territories by CDMA system. There is planned to complete the installation of stated stations in the regions of country till the end of year. We are opening company for cooperation with all types of dealers' networks.

Regarding the apparatus of communication?

Concerning the cellular than we have already brought all production of such kind of largest companies. We fulfill the comparative policy of price to these apparatus and I can assure you that our apparatus will be cheap. The matter is fact that as against of manufacturer plants of GSM apparatus the CDMA apparatus should be certified and it will influence to their cost.

Firstly, the system of sliding object glass of camera permitting to receive clearer image was used in CDMA cellular. With the aim of more less cost receiving for supplying equipment the negotiation are continued with the plant-manufacturers of stationary apparatus and telephones for autos.

You talked about innovations in CDMA networks, what are they implied?

There is planned to introduce 6 new types of services. SMS became the first. Firstly, we plan the introducing in Azerbaijan of MMS service for transmission of digitized video image.

Today, the connecting of all subscribers to CDMA network is $23.

For owners of cellular are offered

4 packages:

service payment

Image - $5,

Expert - $10,

Premium - $15,

Ideal - $70,8.

For owners of stationary apparatus (including apparatus for auto) are offered 3 packages:

service payment

Optimal 300 - $5,

Optimal 900 - $15,

Universal - $23.

CDMA technology also allows supporting the Internet and DATA-services allowing to receive up to 153 kb/s.