Television and broadcasting

Translation of TV and RW-signals is carried out by 49 translators. During the last period of time the number of TV programs rose from 3 to 8, radio programs – from 2 to 6. In order to improve the quality and stability of TV programs reception, there have been built and work systems of cable television. The services of TV programs translation via SCTV are carried out by 15 license holders.

Local telephone communication

This kind of services is provided by 14 operators, one of them, OJC “Smolensksvyazinform”, is a traditional one, all the others are new ones. The share of the latter on the local market of telecommunication is not significant yet, makes about 4%. The amount of telephone numbers increases annually by 15-20.000. All towns and rayon centres of the oblast have access to inter-town and international telephone communication via located in Smolensk automatic international telephone station of S12 type.

Mobile communication

On the market of cell radio-telephone communication work 5 operators, providing services within the standards GSM 900/1800, NMT-450, AMPS. Here the leader is the Smolensk branch of MTS company.

At present the company OJC “Smolenskiye mobilniye sety” is carrying out the reconstruction in order to take up the new standard IMT-MS-450) of the third generation. It is planned to start the GSM-1800 net. During this year the company is planning to put into operation the second commutator with capacity of 150.000 numbers. In 2003 “Beeline-GSM” station will increase the commutator by 100.000 numbers.

Paging communication

In Smolensk and its neighbouring regions there are more than 2.000 subscribers, using the service of a personal radio-call, which are provided by two paging operators.

Internet

Internet is one of the most rapidly developing services of the telecommunication market of the Smolensk oblast. The services of access to the Internet are provided by OJC “Smolensksvyazinform” and CJC “Smolenskiy Teleport”. The number of the Internet users increases annually and by now it has reached 7.000 and it is expected to keep on growing.