Communication and Telecommunication
In 2007, the share of communication services in the Gross Domestic Product accounted for 2.2%. Due to dynamic development of cellular mobile telecommunication, the subscriber base of which increased during the year by more than 1 million people and also due to increase of main telephone sets by 91.1 thous, the services to legal entities and natural persons increased by 16.4% and paid services to the users through all realization channels – by 17%. Growth in the export of communication services was 114.9% compared to 2006.
In 2007, construction of modern and modernization of existing telecommunication networks, development of postal communication and expansion of the TV/radio broadcasting network were underway. The level of digitalization of the switching equipment of local telephone networks was 75% as of the end of 2007.
The total number of subscribers of the cellular mobile telecommunication network was 7 mln people as of the beginning of 2008. Cellular communication covers over 89% of the country’s area. Currently, four operators provide cellular mobile telecommunication services: Foreign Enterprise Mobile Digital Communication, Joint Mobile Telesystems, Ltd., JV Belcel, Ltd. and BeST PJSC.
Providing telephone communication services by using wireless subscriber access technology (WLL) was started in September 2007; in 2008, Wi-Fi wireless access points are to be installed in public and business places (hotels, press centers, fairs, exhibitions, trading houses, railway terminals, airports and sanatoria).
In 2008, developments of the following spheres in the sector are to be prioritized:
- further developing and modernizing communication networks to provide the Belarusian population with information and telecommunication services primarily in implementing socially significant programs;
- developing a data communication network mainly by using broadband access to Internet;
- expanding digital TV broadcasting by using transmitters;
- constructing four new radio and television broadcasting stations;
- replacing depreciated and obsolete transmitting equipment and wire broadcasting amplifiers;
- increasing the level of technology intensiveness of the postal service offices;
- fully computerizing operational windows in the post-offices;
- developing consumer self-service systems using payment and inquiry terminals and Internet technologies;
- implementing energy-saving and also less material- intensive technologies in providing communication services;
- introducing and promoting new services to meet changing needs and expectations of the consumers.
