DUSHANBE, November 14, Asia-Plus -- An official opening of the Alcatel representative office in Tajikistan was held in Dushanbe today.  

Daniel Jaeger, vice-president of Alcatel in Central Asia, Mongolia and Azerbaijan, Eduard Khurshudian, director business development of Alcatel in Central Asia and Mongolia participated at the official ceremony. Said Zuvaydov, Minister of Communications, Pierre Andrieu, Ambassador of France and Tracey Ann Jacobson Ambassador of USA to Tajikistan were among honorable guests of the official ceremony.

During the ceremony it was noted that the decision to open the office in Tajikistan was driven by the rapid development of the telecommunication industry in the country, both in the segments of services and networks’ infrastructure, which provides new opportunities for Alcatel in the region.

After the representation-opening ceremony, Daniel Jaeger told journalists that opening of the company’s representation in Tajikistan will help to provide timely support to the company’s existing and potential clients in this strategically important area of the Central Asia.  “We are committed to further reinforce our presence in the country by providing a full range of innovative technologies and services for local operators and corporate companies,” Jaeger said. 

According to him, the representative office will be a center for coordinating sales, marketing and other operations of the company in Tajikistan.  “The company that has worked in Tajikistan for some 2? years intends to take part in development of the telecommunications market in Tajikistan,” Jaeger noted, adding that there were no any problems with opening the representative office in Tajikistan and a close cooperation was established with the country’s Ministry of Communications.  

Speaking to journalists, Eduard Khurshudian noted, “Alcatel recognizes and appreciates dynamic economic growth in the country and is ready to contribute to the further development of telecommunications in the region.  Alcatel industry leading telecommunication solutions are designed to meet customers’ needs for the already existing and next-generation networks.”   

According to him, Alcatel will also promote introduction of new technologies in Tajikistan and invest in development the republic’s science.  “We plan to sign a cooperation agreement with Tajik Technical University, under which it is supposed to train skilled personnel for Tajikistan’s telecommunications and IT sector,” Khurshudian said.  

The head of the Alcatel representative office in Tajikistan is Jamshed Fayzulloyev.  The office team supported by Alcatel CIS organization will be responsible for further development of cooperation with local fixed and mobile carries, corporate companies as well educational institutions and regulatory bodies.

            In 2004, Alcatel won the tender announced by American MCT Corporation for the modernization and expansion of the GSM networks of Tajikistan’s largest cellular operators – Indigo Tajikistan and Somoncom.  Alcatel was awarded a frame contract for the delivery of Evolium ^TM GSM radio equipment (BSS) and core network equipment (NSS), as well as the Alcatel all-in-one network optimization service.  A new MSC had already been delivered to Somoncom.  The next step is to optimize and expand the radio networks of both operators and to install future-proof Alcatel equipment.    

Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.