Rostelecom reaches agreement with Intel for joint development of customer terminals for internet access
MOSCOW. Sept 14 (Interfax) - OJSC Rostelecom and the Intel Corporation have signed an agreement, which foresees partnership in the development and creation of customer terminals for broadband internet access, the Russian telecom major said in a statement.
The companies also plan to combine efforts in their operations with international equipment producers (Intel's partners in the production and sale of these devices under the Rostelecom brand at its retail chain).
Intel's vice president, John Davies, was quoted in the statement as saying that "the computer and access to the internet are components of a single service with modern providers," adding that "we are happy that Rostelecom is supporting Intel Corporation's initiative to promote integrated solutions for providing consumers with modern technologies and services".
Rostelecom's competitors, the "Big-3" providers, have already been selling devices for Internet access (modems, notebooks, netbooks and flatscreen computers) under their own brands for quite some time now.
According to AC&M Consulting, Rostelecom had cornered 42% of Russia's fixed-line broadband market as of the end of the first quarter of this year.
The company's market share in net connections came to 22% in the first quarter. Rostelecom's subscriber base at the end of the quarter (including National Telecommunications, acquired at the start of the year) came to 6.98 million households.
Rostelecom plans to have boosted its share to 50% by 2015. The provider's strategic plan foresees 30% of its capex going to the development of broadband services in 2011-2015.
The Russian provider also might announce its plans for developing its own retail chain in the near future. The company has not ruled out bringing in an outside operator to manage its monobrand outlets. Negotiations have already been held with Russian retailers Euroset and Svyaznoy.