Communications Ministry: two years to dismantle Soviet telephone and postal network
The Ministry of Communications reckons the process of dismantling Soviet Union-wide telephone, postal and telegraph networks could take two years. This would mean that Moscow would retain control over the telecommunications of politically-independent republics. The ministry’s press service released the statement saying that, for decades, communications lines, post office, and telephone exchanges were built with only technical-economic reasons in mind, and consideration of national borders has arisen only recently. Therefore, all the territory of the former Soviet Union will continue to be served by one international post office, one Moscow-based long-distance telephone service, one department dealing with radio frequency allocation and one international toll-call clearing centre. Although changes are coming and the Ministry is losing its monopoly as a service provider, says a Ministry spokeswoman, the building of new networks and the foundation of new companies will take a long time. The heads of newly-created republican communications ministries met recently in Moscow. They agreed on a new body to serve as a temporary intermediary between the republics. This should be in place within two to three months. Mr Ivanov, Soviet deputy minister of communications, says that several open questions remain: the division of responsibilities between the central body and republics, the procedure for creating republican communication networks, the creation of new financial agreements and the sharing of radio and television satellites and base-stations which are often shared by several republics. Ivanov adds that no Ministry of Communications in any independent republic will be admitted into the International Postal and Telecommunications Unions without formal political recognition from the rest of the world.
Sovam Teleport plans expansion, as communications are improved
Sovam Teleport, the Soviet-American joint-venture between the San Francisco-Moscow Teleport and the Soviet organisation Viipas, says it is planning to expand its internal and international business activities now that that it has finally taken delivery of its Alcatel NV ACX switch. After installation, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, says Sovam’s Vladimir Teremetsky, we’ll be able to increase our marketing efforts and provide everybody in need of computer links with fast and reliable communications. According to the Sovam director, the company has been seriously restricted by the antiquated equipment installed at its Moscow premises. The new switch will enable the company to support up to 2,000 users – it currently has about 600. And Sovam says that it will now lower its prices to compete with SprintNet USSR, which currently offers the cheapest service. In addition to increasing its number of circuits, Moscow Sovam is expanding its electronic mail service to other cities across the former Soviet Union, and is reported to be in negotiation with independent companies and telephone authorities in 30 locations. Sovam’s intention is also to become a carrier for a number of local database hosts.
Rouble inflation stifles domestic sales
Rouble inflation is stifling domestic computer sales. According to figures from the Moscow Commodities Exchange, the average AT-compatible system with an Intel 80286 and 80287 co-processor and VGA graphics and printer jumped from 35,000 roubles in September to 48,000 at the end of October and to 55,000 roubles at the end of November – a rise of 64% in just two months. And Intel 80386-based machines have doubled in price during this period. Many dealers say selling computers equipped with less than an 80386 or 80486 processor in Russia is now a loss-making business if done for roubles.
Data Interchange Association to provide access to Edifact database in Geneva
Sergey Bakhtov of the Association of Electronic Data Interchange users, called PEPI in the USSR, says it will provide access to a EDIfact documents database in
Geneva, and sell systems using software developed by the French packet-switched network operator, Transpac SA. The Association now offers a two-week EDIfact training course in Moscow; Bakhtov says Soviet rail and shipping companies understand the need for electronic communications. The PEPI association was founded a year ago by the Soviet Ministries of Merchant Marine, River Fleets and Railways, various vehicle companies and the state customs department. Its purpose is to promote electronic data interchange technology – Bakhtov says the only existing data interchange project in the transportation industry operates between the Baltic Shipping Company and its partners in Hamburg, Germany. Soviet railways and merchant fleets still use paper-based systems. Soviet railways are currently testing an electronic commodities-tracking system in Kazakhstan. Also, at the Odessa port on the Black Sea, Groupe Bull SA is said to be participating in a project to gain access to the Meditel shipping network on the Mediterranean.
