AMERICAN TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY AvirTelPRESENTS STATE-OF-THE ART TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR AZERBAIJAN AND REGIONAL COUNTRIES

 

Caspian Energy (CE): Mr Shabani, could you review the history of the company, its activity and objectives?

Esmail Shabani, General Director,  AvirTel Ltd.: AvirTel Ltd, the branch of American Telecommunication Company in Azerbaijan was established in 2000 by Cybernet Communications. The company is the regional office of AvirTel Inc, and our principal goal is to provide telecommunication services across the region with highest professionalism and efficiency. Today the world of telecommunications is going through a period of disruptive changes, and sometimes it is not easy to follow those changes. Thus AvirTel has steadily created a modern efficient network infrastructure, using state-of-the-art technology in order to respond to the increasing demand of a dynamic market. This is one of the reasons why our company's slogan is "The next step in telecommunications". AvirTel is taking all necessary measures to bring about the introduction of new services consequently a continuous improvement of customer service.

 

CE: What projects did the company introduce during its operation in the market of Azerbaijan?

Esmail Shabani: The first project the company implemented in Azerbaijan together with the Ministry of Communication and IT Aztelecom was introduction of pre-paid calling cards - Aztelecard.

The company's next project was implementing Toll Free service. Through extensive programming AvirTel has integrated its switching facilities with all the landline and wireless carriers in Azerbaijan creating the Toll Free service. This service is used by businesses where their customers and partners can reach them via special Toll Free numbers without any charge.

Having successfully realized Toll Free service, we also introduce high-speed Internet Access through DSL, E-1, Dial- up and Wireless for Baku and plan to provide major regions of Azerbaijan with high-speed Internet services. With AvirTel high-speed data transfer at lower rates is not a dream. We value our Customers, and for this reason present the best in technology.

Consequently we present telecom solutions including installation of corporate and wireless cameras for businesses and ATS within the office. We guarantee high security and confidentiality of our works.

 

CE: How does Toll free number work?

Esmail Shabani: I would like to stress that AvirTel introduced Toll Free service firstly in Azerbaijan within Caucasus. A Toll-Free number is referred to as a 088 area code phone number. This is the only Toll-Free area code for Azerbaijan. Calls made to Toll Free numbers are diverted to service provider's stations. This station is programmed to divert numbers and connect them to the called company's line. The uninterrupted connection to Subscriber Company is available around the clock. With a Toll-Free number, you will get calls that ring on your existing phone line from anywhere at no charge to the caller. You answer the phone call as you normally would. There is no extra phone required. 088 Toll Free numbers can also ring on the cell phone or land phone of a choice.

Not only companies, but private persons also can use services of our company because we offer high quality at affordable prices. AvirTel uses the best in technology to meet customer needs with efficiency!

 

CE: What are the advantages of Toll Free service?

Esmail Shabani: 088 Toll Free number is the right and smart choice for companies in Azerbaijan. These numbers will help businesses to convert potential clients into permanent customers. Today in most of European countries and America huge percentage of big businesses have their own toll free numbers. In most cases a customer expects the business to have a toll free number.

Definite advantages of Toll Free numbers are:

 

CE: How has Toll Free service justified itself in Azerbaijan? 

Esmail Shabani: This service is being successfully implemented in Azerbaijan's market. Today Toll Free service covers the entire country, thus giving an opportunity to make calls from anywhere within Azerbaijan. We have subscribers not only in Baku, but also in Ganja, Lankaran, Sheki, and Guba.

The persons connected to this system will not face with difficulties while finding the number of the company they need as subscribers can be issued Toll Free numbers with prefix 088 and company name.

 

CE: What is the company's strategy regarding expansion of Toll Free coverage area and development of long-distance communication?

Esmail Shabani: The company's closest plans include provision of international calls support. In this connection we are talking to foreign partners that provide Toll Free services. We aim to expand service portfolio and network reach to gain customer satisfaction. Negotiations have already been conducted in this field and related agreements will be signed in short, which will allow subscribers both to receive and make toll-free calls, from /to any part of the world at competitive rates.

 

CE: What plans regarding expansion of the business geography in the region does the company have?

Esmail Shabani: As of today, AvirTel's office runs in Azerbaijan. We have a specific plan for extension of our presence in FSU countries and we already work in this sphere. We plan to open two more representative offices across the region in the near future.

 

CE: What projects are underway now? What innovations do you plan to introduce this year?

Esmail Shabani: We currently specialize and focus on WiMAX project for Azerbaijan Republic and CIS countries. With professional research and development team that has more than 15 years of experience in Telecommunication industry, Cybernet Communications has developed and implemented WiMAX network at California, US for 8 months.  In August 2005 and October, 2006 AvirTel held the presentation of WiMAX project for Azerbaijan and it is our sincere hope that we will have the opportunity to develop this network in Azerbaijan.

 

CE: What is the basis of WiMAX technology?

Esmail Shabani: WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) technology is based on IEEE 802.16 protocol, which, as against other radio access technologies, provides a high-speed connection at big distances through reflected signal even if the object is not in line of sight.

This technology allows working in any conditions, even in dense urban developments, ensuring the high communication quality and fast data transfer.

It allows providing the services of telephony Internet access and data transfer without using cable lines.

WiMAX technology can be used to establish last mile broadband connections, arrange wireless access points, organize a network among branch offices with company and solve other problems previously limited with traditional technologies.

WiMAX technology allows provide Internet-access with rate and coverage much greater than those at today's WiFi networks. Wi-Fi is a wireless communication technology for small distances in office buildings or cafes... The distance from Wi-Fi hot spot to computer does not exceed dozens of meters. WiMAX is a broadband wireless access network covering the entire city, and the distance between base station and receiver is measured in kilometers.

 

CE: What are main advantages of this technology unlike already introduced and well-known ones in the technologies market?

Esmail Shabani: Other advantages of suggested technology are that it does not need access authorization (for example, from administration of business-center or building), as it is not necessary to lay cables or drill walls. As against traditional radio access methods, a reliable connection is established. WiMAX works out of the sight of base station, regardless of landscape features, like trees, neighbor buildings or if the office is located at the first floor. The service completeness is that one and the only set of equipment enables providing telephony, Internet and enterprise networking services.

Mobility - if the company moves to a new location, all settings, phone numbers and additional services are preserved, and connection works as before.

WiMAX is based on 802.16 standard. The equipment of such standard is purposed to solve operator-class problems. The range is estimated at kilometers, whereas speed at tens of Mb/s. the operation mode in radio shadow - OFDM technology. Due to such advantages WiMAX, as a solution of a higher class, is capable to compete with such technologies as DSL-communication.

One more problem of Wi-Fi technology is high-energy capacity of facilities. In this case Wi-MAX technology does not have this disadvantage. Wi-Fi technology is not designed for operation in economic modes, whereas Wi-MAX does not require energy-intensive applications.

WiMAX technology allows offering telephony service, Internet access and data transmission without cable lines. Unlike traditional radio-access technologies, Wi-MAX is capable to operate on return signal without line-of-sight coverage of the base station. Wi-MAX technology may be a key solution to the problem with communication for companies, which offices are located in buildings or regions without free communication lines, whereas laying new ones is very expensive.

 

CE: Who are potential clients of WiMAX technology in Azerbaijan?

Esmail Shabani: WiMAX technology allows offering broadband long-distance communication for companies, ordinary users and exigent cellular and corporate mobile applications.

 

Technology can be used for:

 

Azerbaijan's future economic success will depend on its technological progress. We have a major role to play in helping create the environment in which that success can be achieved by establishing WiMAX network.

Today AvirTel has a dynamic executive team as well as creative, highly professional and experienced people who try to deliver best care and support to Customer. All these hard work and tireless efforts come down to one thing alone: to provide a complete range of communications services, based on market demand, at the possible     cost to the customers and using the most modern and effective technology.

We want to help all our customers make their lives and businesses better with services that are tailored to their needs and easy to use. This means getting ever closer to customers, understanding their lifestyles and their businesses, and establishing long-term relationships with them.

We're passionate about customers and are working to meet the needs they have today and innovating to meet the needs they will have tomorrow.