The VympelCom group of companies (Beeline brand) announced that according to 2009 results, the number of Internet users of the Beeline brand in Russia exceeded 2 mln. According to the results of the 3rd quarter of 2009, the income of VympelCom in the broadband access segment in Russia was 1.7 billion rubles (with 626 mln. coming from mobile broadband access, and 1.1 billion from fixed broadband access).
ComNews Research experts published their research summing up the development of the Russian pay-TV market in 2009 and the comparative analysis of the cable TV and IPTV subscription prices in 16 Russian cities (administrative centers of the RF federal districts and cities with the population exceeding 1 mln. people). During 2009 the IPTV subscription base in Russia was up 70%, exceeding the threshold of 1 mln. users. The average cost of one IPTV channel in Russia is 9.95 rub. (December 2009), while a cable TV channel costs almost a half of that, 4.35 rub. (this figure characterizes the cost of the channel in a package offered by the pay-TV operator). In some cities the difference is even more significant.
The North West brand of the Rostelecom communication operator announced that it launched a new service of IPTV for Communication Operators. Rostelecom will be responsible for the provision of technological, administrative, legal and content services. The agent operator, in its turn, delivers this service to the end user, to its subscribers. The content license aggregator is Rosmedia, a Rostelecom subsidiary.
COMSTAR – United Telesystems (JSC Comstar-UTS) announced that it launches interactive IPTV service in the Moscow Oblast. At the initial stage this service will be available to the residents of a number of towns of the Moscow Region, such as Dolgoprudny, Mytishchi, Shchelkovo, Balashikha, Zheleznodorozhny, Lyubertsy and Sergiyev Posad, Khimki, Krasnogorsk, Vnukovo, Vidnoye, Gorky-10. Besides the main IPTV technology capabilities, the basic service package may also include a number of additional services, such as Video Telephony, Information Portals browsing, Web access, etc. This technology was made possible by the unification and standardization of various end devices, integration of sound, video and data on the basis of the IP protocol and an integral technological platform for service provision.
From January 1, 2010 Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) increases the cost of channel lease by 10% for the Express-AM1, Express-AM22, Express-MD1, Express-AM33 and Express-AM3 satellites. The company informed operators six months before the increase to help them plan their budgets.
The CTI Company in the cooperation with Iskratelecom has implemented the new ISKRA TV PC service that provides the subscribers of this operator with the opportunity to use all the services of digital interactive TV on their PCs. The new service is a package of interactive services for subscribers similar to the services of the TV set top box, including video on demand, virtual movie theater, personal video recorder, a digital program schedule, viewing pause, and HDTV viewing for TV channels of high definition.
VympelCom intends to revive the IPTV project launched by Corbina as far back as in 2006. The operator plans to develop the service in Russian regions, intending to raise it to the federal level in the nearest future. Dmitry Bragin, the Director for Broadband Access Development of the company, said that the launching of the service in more than ten towns in 2010 is being discussed now, and the service will be put into operation in St. Petersburg by the end of this year. The IPTV subscription base of VympelCom exceeded 15,000 by the end of June.
COMSTAR-United Tele-Systems has altered its rate plans for wireless broadband Internet Access services using WiMAX technology since July 1, and the modem price for subscribers also went down. The cost of 1Mb of traffic that exceeds the monthly package ranges now from 0.15 rubles to 0.50 rubles depending on the package. Before July 1 the cost ranged from 0.50 rubles to 3 rubles. The new rates also refer to the old subscribers.
The company representatives claimed during the press-conference that the network has already been put into commercial operation. It will work in the 3.5 GHz band on the WiMAX Forum certified Alvarion equipment.
According to Igor Shchegolev, the RF Minister of Communication, who spoke at the June 23 briefing of the European Business Association in Moscow, transition to the digital format in TV broadcasting, expansion of the third and fourth generation communication networks and the reform of the Svyazinvest group are the most urgent issues for the ministry today.
Home
