Top ten events of 2009 information technologies area – ARKA news agency’s selection

YEREVAN, February 17. /ARKA/. ARKA News Agency has singled out ten most important events of the year.

1. Orange Armenia Starts Operating

The third operator, Orange Armenia, came to Armenia’s mobile telecommunication market. The company fully owned by France Telecom (Orange brand) has invested €140 million in Armenia. Orange Armenia started its activity with 83-percent coverage, providing access to mobile telecommunication and Internet in 500 cities and villages. The company has attracted more than 100,000 clients for the first month of its activity and enlarged their number to 200,000 later.  
The number of the company’s Internet users has already exceeded 5,000. To ensure high-quality to its services the company has bought a section of Iran-Armenia fiber-optic cable from GNC-Alfa Company. Taking into account the growing demand for Internet, Orange Armenia doubled capacity of its network.
Orange TV started transmitting Armenian Public Television programs in 2009. Appearance of the company in Armenia has widened the range of services on the market and has driven prices for these services down.

2. ArmTech Congress Held in Armenia

The Third Armenian Technology Congress was held in San Jose, United States’ Silicon Valley in 2009.   As a rule, this congress is held now in Silicon Valley, now in Armenia.  Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan spoke at the 2009 congress.Participants of the ArmTech reconsidered the platform of IT development in Armenia, summarized what is already done and outlined future steps.   At the congress, two participant companies – Armenian Enterprise Incubator Foundation and U.S. Plug & Play enterprise incubator - established ties and made arrangements for future cooperation.  A special social network, armtechnetworking.com , was created for ArmTech participants. Website www.armtechcongress.com is available as well. Some 430,000 to 500,000 US dollars were spent for ArmTech congress.

3. Microsoft Innovation Center

Armenian government signed an agreement with Microsoft on a comprehensive development of Microsoft’s innovation center in Armenia.
The program was signed by Microsoft Corporation, USAID and the Enterprise Incubator Foundation in October and launched on November 5.
The center is planned to be opened in 2010. Microsoft has invested $2 million in this center.

4. Appearance of GNC-Alfa

GNC-Alfa, the third wholesale Internet operator, started providing IP-transit (wholesale) services to Internet providers in Armenia.  The southern segment of GNC-Alfa’s network between Yerevan and the border with Iran was put in exploitation in September 2009. The network, connected to the fiber-optic line in Iran, ensures access to world telecommunication networks. The network was put in commercial exploitation on October 15.  GNC-Alfa has already got permission for building the northern segment of its network between Yerevan and Armenia’s border with Georgia. The section is under construction and expected to be put into exploitation in the first quarter of 2010.

5. Citronix’ Venture Fund in Armenian Radio Plant

Russian Citronix announced its intention to establish a venture fund based on Mars, Armenian radio plant. The authorized capital of this venture fund with its free economic zone will amount to $40 million. The fund’s capitalization will be ensured until mid-2010.  The authorized capital is planned to double in the following years.  State participation will be 10 to 15%. World Bank’s representatives expressed interest in this project. Negotiations with other international organizations are under way now.  

6. VivaCell-MTS Launches 3G Network

VivaCell-MTS started providing 3G services in Armenia ensuring technology of broadband access to Internet.  Initially, the network was available in three cities, but in 2009 fall the company launched 3G network in 47 cities. Later, the company expressed intention to embark on developing fourth-generation network or Lte network in 2010. VivaCell-MTS has invested $350 million in Armenia since 2005.  The company also intends to present its new brand, MTS-Armenia, to the community.

7. Technology Park in Gyumri

Armenian government approved the $66-million program of state support for a technology park in Gyumri. Results of development of the industrial park, which had started its activity with $10-15 million capital, are expected to be seen in three or five years.  The construction of campuses and a business centre of the technology park is planned to be launched in 2010. Some $2 million will be targeted for this purpose. Total area of the technology park is 4,000 square meters.
The World Bank, Asian Development Bank and some private investors have expressed interest in the project.
 
8. ICON Communications Offers WiMAX Services

ICON Communications, wireless Internet provider in Armenia, put WiMAX into commercial exploitation. Initially, the company’s network was available only in the central part of Yerevan, but now residents of almost all districts of the capital can enjoy it. The network is planned to embrace all large cities of Armenia in 2010.
The company has invested some $10 million in the network.

9. Interactive Television Launched in Armenia

Ucom company, in cooperation with Ericsson, has launched high-quality network of interactive television in Armenia.
The company provides IPTV, including fiber-optic GPON technology.   Thanks to IPTV, viewers will enjoy the same interactive services they have in their computers. Functions, such as chat, web-TV and access to social media-networks are available here. IPTV users enjoy access to multi-purpose specialized portal with a wide range of TV channels, videos, e-guide and personal video record. 

10. Kaspersky Labs IT Academy and Satellite Monitoring Center Opened in Armenia

Kaspersky Labs and Russian Softline opened an IT academy in Yerevan. The main aim of the academy is to train students in modern programs.
Besides, students will take classes for getting international certificate.  The center will also make it possible to use satellite technologies for solving national security and economic development problems. The center’s station will show every spot in Armenia in real time regime. --0--