The Turkish Post and Telephone Authority is to launch a project aimed at integrating the telephone systems in five of the former Soviet republics in Central Asia. The total value of the project is put at $25m. Under the agreement the Turkish company will provide each of the republics with equipment capable of supporting 2,500 communication lines. The telephone networks of each republic will be connected via Intelsat using earth stations supplied by the Turkish company. Hardware contracts have been concluded with Netas, a subsidiary of Northern Telecom Ltd in Turkey, and Teletas, the company part owned by Alcatel NV, to deliver telecommunication equipment. In 1991, Netas installed digital switches from Northern Telecom in Baku, Azerbaijan. A similar system was installed in Kazakhstan. Netas has also established capacity in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to produce digital switches for use in remote rural areas.
