Company History
January 2007
In mid January 2007 Rostelecom put into commercial operation a new high performance digital communication line Skovorodino–Aldan–Yakutsk. The line is 1035 km in length and became a timely response to meet the growing needs in telecommunications of the public and businesses in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The new high performance line allows to enhance the quality, reliability and expand the number of services provided.
April 2007
Rostelecom won a prestigious award of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of the Russian Federation for quality for the year 2006 in the "Telephone operators" category.
May 2007
Rostelecom successfully passed the quality evaluation of the "Provision of international private leased digital circuits" certified in the System of voluntary certification of communications services, facilities and quality management systems of telecom organizations "Communications-Quality". After a supervisory review the Certificate validity was extended until May 2008.
July 2007
Rostelecom and China Telecom, a leading Chinese telecom carrier, entered into an agreement on the exchange of Internet traffic (peering) enabling the traffic routing optimization, minimization of latency of data transmission to Russian networks and further improvement of the quality of Internet access for subscribers. It was also in July that Rostelecom placed in commercial operation a new ring network structure in the North-Western region in the section St. Petersburg – Moscow, completing the high performance digital fiber-optical transmission line (FOTL) through the section Vologda – Issad, built in 2006, and covering Moscow, Tver, Novgorod, Leningrad, Tula, Ryazan, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Kostroma and Vologda regions.
August 2007
Rostelecom was the first telecommunication carrier to be granted Certificate of Compliance of the service "Provision of Internet access through a communications network" with the requirements of the System of voluntary certification of communication services, facilities and quality management systems of telecom organizations "Communications-Quality".
September 2007
Department of organizational development and personnel management of the Open Joint Stock Company Rostelecom became the winner of the 3rd All-Russian contest "The best Russian personnel management service-2007". Rostelecom's top managers are heading the lists of Russia’s best managers. For 8 years now "1000 Top Russian managers list" has been finding the best professional managers of the country, industry leaders and experts in their functional areas.
October 2007
On October 18, 2007 Rostelecom provided its nationwide communications network and a multichannel federal telephone number for a TV call-in show with the President of Russia and TV link-up with different locations across the country
In November 2007 Rostelecom and Russian Institute for Public Networks (RIPN) made a Master Agreement on Cooperation in developing software and technology for regional Internet traffic exchange nodes (Internet eXchanges, IXs) to optimize traffic routing. In late November Rostelecom executed a supplementary agreement to the Master Agreement with Uzbektelecom, Uzbekistan's national operator. In the context of the Agreement the Parties agreed to substantially increase the capacity of the existing channel for provision of Internet access to Uzbektelecom on the basis of Rostelecom's own network.
In December 2007 Rostelecom’s Board of Directors appointed Mr. Konstantin Solodukhin the General Director of the Company, effective for two years.
2006: The year highlights
January
Rostelecom automates preparation of consolidated financial statements.
Experts of Rostelecom in collaboration with consultants from GMCS completed a project to automate preparation of the Company consolidated financial statements on Microsoft Axapta platform. In late January Rostelecom was assigned operator selection codes for international and domestic long-distance telephone calls. The assignment of these codes enables subscribers wishing to use Rostelecom network for making long-distance calls in Russia should dial 8-55-(area code)-(called party number) from any fixed line telephone set; for making an international call via Rostelecom subscribers should dial 8-10-(country code)-(area code)-(called party number)
February
Rostelecom introduces a single human resource management and salary calculation system.
A new unified system for human resource management and computing of employees’ salaries was put into operation in Rostelecom, based on the software module called BOSS-personnel manager. The system integrates the Company’s General Directorate and 9 regional operating branches with the total headcount in excess of 23500 employees and is designed to optimize personnel management in the Company.
March
Rostelecom deploys a nationwide network of sales and customer service centers in March.
Development of the sales and customer service centers will enable the national long-distance carrier to bring its services as close to the customer as possible. The centers offer an opportunity to resolve fast and smoothly any outstanding customer service issues, make payments for the communication services rendered, sign a service contract and obtain individual advice.
Rostelecom implements optimal routing of international calls
Rostelecom is implementing a system of optimal routing of international calls to enable selection of the most efficient route for each international telephone call. Based on the analysis of termination rates, available capacity and quality of service the system automatically generates updates and changes in the routing plan.
April
April heralded remarkable accomplishments made by Rostelecom in the construction of fiber-optic transmission lines. Rostelecom completed implementation of ring protection of its DWDM network in the European part of Russia. Several sections of fiber-optic transmission lines (FOTL) in the Southern, Central and Central-Blacksoil regions were upgraded to expand the throughput of backbone links on the basis of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and implement route diversity protection using ring architecture by installation of DWDM hardware for STM-64. The Company also brought in commercial operations a fiber-optic link connecting Blagoveschensk in Russia and Heihe in China. This high-speed land-based link features advanced DWDM equipment ensuring transmission rate of 2.5 Gbps with planned upgrade up to 400 Gbps.
May
In May 2006 Rostelecom started commercial operation of a new intelligent platform. The new platform deployed by the Company features advanced hardware and software products to build an Intelligent Network (IN) enabling to enhance the number of handled calls, expand the range and improve quality of services, as well as offer new intelligent services throughout Russia. The high-performance platform is capable of handling over 200 calls per second or 750 thousand calls per hour. The same month Rostelecom also acquired a controlling stake in CJSC Globus-Telecom, by completing a deal to purchase 74.57% of Globus-Telecom shares. The total value of the deal was about USD30 million.
June
In June Rostelecom completed acquisition of a controlling stake in CJSC Zebra-Telecom, thus closing the deal to purchase 99.99% of Zebra-Telecom shares from Starford Investments Company Limited. The acquisition of the stake in Zebra-Telecom is in keeping with the Company strategy to improve its position in the end user market, and in particular, will enable Rostelecom to expand significantly the range of service offerings to communication service customers.
July
Rostelecom jointly with OJSC FGC UES (electric power distributor) brought into service fiber-optic communication line Chelyabinsk-Tyumen. Completion of this link is part of Rostelecom strategy aimed at enhancing throughput, improving resilience and efficiency of its core network operation. Implementation of this project will make it possible to provide additional interconnects with the Company core network in a number of major cities in the Ural region and Siberia to create mutually protected links, and ensure protection of the core network using transmission route diversity (ring structures).
August
In August 2006 Rostelecom made fully operationable a new high-speed fiber-optic transmission line Nazran-Grozny. Completion of this project will make it possible to provide additional interconnects with the Company core network in a number of cities and localities in the North Caucasus to create mutually protected links, and ensure protection of the core network using route diversity (ring structures).
September
In September 2006 Rostelecom upgraded its corporate data network. Within the framework of this project Rostelecom upgraded segments of the core data network on the basis of Cisco hardware to comply with common requirements to be met by core data network nodes located in the Company’s operating branches in Moscow and seven macro-regions. Provisioning of high-speed transmission channels and back-up links for restoration between data network sites will ensure higher throughput, improving the efficiency of corporate applications, resilience and reliability of the system operation.
October
In October 2006 Rostelecom launched commercial operation of a fiber-optic line between Vologda and Issad in Russia’s North-West. Completion of this project allowed for enhancement of the network throughput and provisioning of additional interconnects with the Company trunk network in Vologda, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, and Ivanovo, as well as provided an additional back-up restoration route for existing links between Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.
Rostelecom and Beltelecom of Belarus completed installation of fiber-optic cables and made the final fiber splice in the area near the border between Russia and Belarus. The works were carried out in order to build a new cross-border link to implement an international fiber-optic line between Vitebsk and Yarstevo using DWDM equipment.
November
In November Rostelecom completed construction of a digital microwave link between Kirov and Syktyvkar spanning over 400 km. The link upgrade using digital SDH microwave transmission equipment will enable provisioning of digital paths from Syktyvkar to Kirov and further extensions to Russian regions via fiber-optic cable lines.
December
In December 2006 Rostelecom was granted a certificate of compliance of its Quality Management System with GOST R ISO 9001-2001 standard. An independent auditor Certification Center Svyaz-certificate confirmed compliance of Rostelecom Quality Management System with the Russian standard.
November 2005
Rostelecom was added to the 2005 list of 100 best client-oriented companies of Russia. The competition had been organized with the support of the Federal Agency of the Russian Federation on Technical Regulating and Metrology.
November 2005
Rostelecom was added to the 2005 list of 100 best client-oriented companies of Russia. The competition had been organized with the support of the Federal Agency of the Russian Federation on Technical Regulating and Metrology.
October 2005
Rostelecom was issued with the certificate of conformity within "Telecommunications-Quality" voluntary certification system created under patronage of Russian Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications to make certification of telecommunications services, facilities and carriers' quality management systems. To certify Rostelecom's long-distance leased line service a number of tests had been made including the assessment of service performance, its reliability and user properties.
September 2005
Rostelecom launched a new high-speed digital fiber-optic line from Ufa to Orenburg of 824 km in length. The introduction of the new line will enable Rostelecom to increase the number of channels to this destination, while improving the quality of domestic and international long-distance services along with starting provision of services to companies from all over Russia, which have business interests in the Orenburg region.
July 2005
Rostelecom signed another buyer's credit agreement with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) on financing the arrangement of the digital radio-relay line from Kirov to Syktyvkar and modernization of the Company's trunk network in the Central, Central-Chernozem and Southern regions of Russia to organize a back up system using DWDM and SDH equipment .
May 2005
Rostelecom hosted an annual Operational Committee meeting of the NSCMA (North Sea Cable Maintenance Agreement). The attendees focused on topical issues of cooperation as well as its further development.
March 2005
Rostelecom implemented the automated budget management system based on Oracle Financial Analyzer (OFA). The implemented system, uniform for all Rostelecom's branches and business units, supports budget planning, control, analysis and forecasting of the Company's results.
February 2005
Standard & Poor's raised its long-term corporate credit rating on Rostelecom from "B" to "B+" with a stable outlook. S&P commented in its report that the upgraded rating reflected the Company's reduced exposure to financial risk and improved market positions and business performance.
February 2005
RID-Expert RA, a consortium of the Russian Institute of Directors and the Expert RA Rating Agency, accorded Rostelecom its Class A rating in its 2004 National Rating of Corporate Governance. Rostelecom stands out for its high corporate governance standards, observing the requirements of Russian legislation and to a greater degree following the recommendations of Russia's Code of Corporate Conduct. RID-Expert RA considers the corporate governance standards in Class A companies to be sufficient for attracting conservative investors.
In November 2004 Rostelecom was named "The Leading Company in Central & Eastern Europe & CIS for Corporate Governance" in an annual s urvey of emerging market companies conducted by Euromoney magazine.
In October 2004 Rostelecom was ranked first by Standard and Poor's in its 2004 Russian Transparency and Disclosure Survey.
During 2004 Rostelecom completed the modernization of its trunk lines from Moscow to Khabarovsk and from Moscow to Novorossiysk, which resulted in a fourfold increase in capacity on this part of the Company's network and significantly improved the quality of long-distance services.
In July 2004 Rostelecom signed an agreement with China Telecom on construction of a cable system between Russia and China to provide the shortest route for traffic transmission between European and Asian countries.
At the beginning of 2004 Rostelecom completed modernization of its Automatic Switching Nodes, International Switching Centers and Exchanges, so, as of today, the switching capacity is 100% digital.
In February 2004 Rostelecom completed construction of a new fiber-optic line between Kaliningrad, Gvardeysk and Sovetsk. Implementation of this project enabled the Company to digitalize Kaliningrad's trunk network and to ensure high quality telecom connections between this region and the rest of Russia.
In January 2004 Rostelecom was awarded a corporate governance score of 6.4 (out of possible 10) by Standard & Poor's.
The year 2003 featured the nationwide roll-out of Rostelecom's "Freephone (8-800)" services throughout the Russian regions. The Company also introduced a major innovation in its prepaid market offering with the launch of a universal Karta Svayzy ("Communications Card") to be used for domestic and international long-distance calls, Internet access, inquiry and reference services.
Supporting the idea to create strong national football, in January 2003 Rostelecom became the lead sponsor of the Russian National Football Team and the Russian Football Union.
In 2003 Rostelecom launched a program to decommission analogue lines and other underperforming assets. The Company phased out its old tropospheric lines in the northern and northeastern part of Russia.
In the same year the 200-kilometer international fiber-optic line from Russia to Azerbaijan was constructed. It strengthened Rostelecom's market position in traffic exchange with countries in the Caucasus and Middle East regions.
In 2003 the throughput capacity expansion on the Moscow-to-Samara and Moscow-to-Novosibirsk lines using DWDM equipment was completed.
During 2002 the reconstruction of the Moscow-to-Samara trunk line using DWDM equipment was completed. Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) equipment, produced by Huawei Technologies, was provided by the Chinese government to Russia within the framework of bilateral cooperation in the telecommunications field.
In 2002 the Company started the expansion of throughput capacity of the Moscow-to-Novosibirsk and Moscow-to-Novorossiysk lines using DWDM equipment. In addition to increasing the capacity of Rostelecom's main trunk lines, these projects provided for creating the new and expanding the existing digital links to the major cities of Russia.
In summer 2002 Rostelecom and the Swedish company Telia implemented the first stage of the Baltic Cable System project. It included the modernization of the Moscow – St. Petersburg – Kingisepp line using DWDM equipment and also the expansion of the Company's participation in the international cable systems.
In 2002 a new fiber-optic line from Russia to Kazakhstan was completed that provided Rostelecom's trunk network with the second access to Kazakhstan.
In 2001 the second stage of the Samara – Saratov – Volgograd fiber-optic line was launched (with the extensions to Rostov-on-Don, Elista and Budennovsk) as well as the fiber-optic line between Lyuban and Issad was constructed.
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