OREANDA-NEWS. On 19 March 2008 was announced, that General Director of "Southern Telecommunications Company" PJSC Alexander Andreev met with the Head of the Government of the Northern Ossetia – Alania Republic Nikolay Khlyntsov. They discussed the questions of cooperation in the sphere of reconstruction and development of telecommunications infrastructure and joint financing of the projects aimed at digitization of rural telephone network. During the discussion of the situation in the telecommunications Company and in the Northern Ossetia – Alania Republic it was noted that since the previous meeting held in October 2007 the parties had showed a good progress.

"UTK" PJSC showed good financial and operational results in 2007 implementing its investment program of about 4 billion roubles of which 144.3 million roubles were invested in the Northern Ossetia branch of the Company.Digitization rate of STC’s networks exceeded the planned one reaching 68.85%. In the Northern Ossetia branch the digitization rate made 78%. It means that most automatic telephone exchanges in the Republic are digital, and inhabitants of all regions can use modern telecom services. Three regions of the Republic — Ardonsky, Digorsky and Pravoberezhny are 100%-digitized. In the nearest future the Company plans to switch to electronic equipment two more regions.

Alexander Andreev told about the Company’s priority investment plans of telecommunications development in the territory of the Northern Ossetia – Alania Republic. He said that in 2008 "Southern Telecommunications Company" PJSC plans to invest 81 million roubles in reconstruction of communication networks in Northern Ossetia, their development, digitization and roll-out of broadband access services.

"Economic situation being improved, the region is in need of well-developed telecommunications and information infrastructure", - the Head of the Government said, - "our region is traditionally open to innovations, whether it be new technologies or services".

Nikolay Khlyntsov thanked telecommunications workers for their participation in social projects. For example, within the framework of the project “Education” "Southern Telecommunications Company" PJSC connected 205 schools in the Northern Ossetia to the Internet.

The negotiations resulted in signing the Agreement on mutual cooperation between the Government of the Northern Ossetia – Alania Republic and "Southern Telecommunications Company" PJSC. The subject of the Agreement is to coordinate efforts on development of telecommunications infrastructure and integration of the most remote districts of the Northern Ossetia – Alania Republic into uniform info-communication area of the Russian Federation.