OREANDA-NEWS. May 06, 2008. A meeting of Uzbekistan Communications and Information Agency’s  Board was held to discuss results of the sector for Q1st 2008, launching and development of ICT, further prospects and goals, reported the press-centre of Uzbektelecom.

Heads of departments and territorial administrations of the Agency, joint stock companies, enterprises and organizations in communication and information sector gathered at that meeting. Regional enterprises of the Agency could watch that meeting  through a videoconferencing service.

At that meeting an extended report was delivered by Deputy Director General of Uzbekistan Communications and Information Agency A.Khodjaev.

He noted particularly that volume of communication services increased versus the same period of previous year as follows: written correspondence – by 2,5%, parcels – 20,4%, long-distance and international telephone calls – 6,7%.

In Q1st of 2008 ICT services recorded 275,8 billion Soum including 139,5 billion Soum from services provided to population.

As for projects incorporated into the investment program of 2008 it could be said that in Q1st a size of used direct foreign investments and credits amounted to \\$41,6 million (54,0 billion Soum).  In addition volume of investments used from own means of enterprises was set at 3,6 billion Soum.

Total number of basic telephone sets made 1817,9 ths. as of 01.04.2008. Telephone density recorded 7,04 telephone sets per 100 inhabitants.

Usage ratio of digital ATSs’ capacity on local telephone networks rose to 89,2%. Level of digitalization was set at 85% as of 01.04.2008.

Number of mobile subscribers amounted to 7290000 as of 01.04.2008 making an increase for Q1-st as 1 million 402 ths. subscribers.

In was noted in the report that realization of the Program on computerization, information & communication technologies’ development is characterized by following showings:

- number of economic entities providing an access to the Internet reached 797;

- total speed of access to the international information networks was set at 362 Mbit/s;

- total number of Internet cafes in the Republic amounts to 799

- estimated number of Internet users increased to 2133 ths people –it  means that currently there are about 78,8 users per 1000 inhabitants  in the Republic.

Based on results of analysis we can state that 92,26% of republican state and governmental bodies have their own information resources (web sites).

Rate of local computer networks’ usage by management of these bodies makes 90,2%, in territorial subdivisions – 62,06%.

A scalable work has been done to develop e-document circulation and its implementation in practice, expansion of volume of software products and export activity, particularly:

- “Conception of development of interdepartmental e-document circulation in the Republic of Uzbekistan”  has been worked out and approved by the Coordination Council on Development of Computerization and Information & Communication Technologies;

- Three Digital Signature Key Registration Centers were incorporated ( within UzACI system, at the State Tax Committee, and a private enterprise “Multisoft Solutions”) and nowadays number of DS users makes 12868;

- A normative base was formed to regulate a process of  e-documents signing including normative documents confirming authenticity of these documents; documents on information security; adoption of five national standards; recommendations to introduce e-document circulation in hokimiyats (mayor’s) and governmental management bodies;

- A pilot project is being realized to launch the electronic form of accountings using computer technologies;

In order to develop a national domain zone UZ the Center UZINFOCOM realized measures on de-centralization of services related to registration and support of domain names, creating a competitive environment in this sphere (www.cctld.uz). In such a way a quantity of official registrars for the second level domains UZ increased from one to six which resulted in decrease of prices on domain UZ registration from \\$40 to \\$20 as well as in increase of quantity of registered domains in zone UZ.

According to the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan the number of  economic entities producing software products (code ОКОНХ-14333 – production of software products) was set at 215 as of 1 April 2008.

Thanks to the program a training of staff is being implemented in communication and information sector. 2772 specialists were trained in different educational centers.   

Training of specialists is being continued to involve them in programming related projects. In recent year 156 students have been taught at the Training center for preparation and support of young programmers. Currently 357 students are being trained there.

Mr. A. Khodjaev in his address emphasized on existing problems. Among them first of all are: further development of services, improvement of quality of services in communication and information sector, working out of national information resources, information security for republican information systems, advancement of executive officers and others. These problems have been discussed in detail.

The following executives also reported at the meeting: General Director of “Uzbekiston Pochtasi” R. Kasimov; Director of Scientific Engineering  & Marketing Research Center M.Makhmudov; Head of the State Communication Inspection Sh. Abidkhodjaev; Director of UZINFOCOM D. Rakhimov.

Heads of enterprises entering the structure of UzACI were noted on necessity of fulfillment of : the State program “Year of the young people” and other programs of highest priorities; executive
discipline; personal responsibility of  leaders and specialists.

The meeting was presided by the Board’s Chairman, Director General of Communications and Information Agency of Uzbekistan A. Aripov.

Necessary decisions were taken as for results of that meeting.