The Elektrosviaz of the Republic of Karelia branch of OJSC North-West Telecom has been awarded the Republic’s Government Certificate “To the Best Collective of the Republic of Karelia for the 2004 Results” for implementation of the best investment project.

The scope of OJSC North-West Telecom’s investment program in the Republic of Karelia was RUR 298.5 million in 2004. Under this investment program, 17 new digital exchanges were started up, and the number capacity of 22 existing exchanges was increased in Petrozavodsk, Belomorsk, Loukhi, Pudozh, Pindushi, Ladva, Ladva-Vetka, Pai, Isle of Kizhi, Sheltozero, Rybreka, Vekhruchei, Kostomuksha, Sortavala, Muyezersky, Girvas, Chalna, N. Vilga, Derevyannoye, Shuya, Meliorativny, Hellyla, and Kulikovo. About 21,500 new numbers were added, of which 15,000 were used to replace the obsolete capacity, and nearly 6 thousand, for installation of new numbers.  

The telephone density has reached 74 sets per 100 families. The installed capacity of the branch’s network has exceeded 221 thousand numbers.

An unique project completed in 2004 was the Petrozavodsk – Pudozh radio relay line installed and started up for a total length of nearly 150 kilometers, of which over 65 kilometers is above the surface of Lake Onega. A Call Center of the information service was commissioned for full-scale operation. 

A high-speed convergent network has been implemented in Petrozavodsk, Medvezhiegorsk, Belomorsk, Loukhi, Kondopoga, Pitkaranta, Olonets, Sortavala, Suojaarvi, Segezha, and Pudozh. A corporate network project for the RF Ministry of Taxes and Duties agency in Karelia and for the National Bank was implemented.

The digitization level in the Republic has reached 51%, and in its capital Petrozavodsk it has exceeded 73%. Fully digitized are Prionezhsky District, and district centers Belomorsk, Loukhi, Pryazha, Lahdenpohja, and Pudozh.