World Surveillance Group Inc (fka WSGI)

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Wide-band spread. Suleyman Of kerimov decided to work in the Internet


ANASTASIY GOLITSYNA

An explosion in the Russian Internet- market drew the attention of the sequential nonspecialized investor: company "Naphtha- Moscow", controlled by deputy Suleymanom By kerimovym, decided to put $600 million into the building of the network of wireless access on the basis of technology WiMax. To supply technology and equipment there will be the American telecommunication company GlobeTel, which plans in 2,5 years to unroll network in 30 cities of Russia. The cost of project astonished the market: according to the estimation of its participants, for $600 million it is possible to create the network of honeycomb connection.

On its output to the Russian market company GlobeTel declared at the very heighth of christmas vacations; however, this solution thoroughly was prepared. "during the entire year we conducted negotiations with the Russian investors, the deputies and the leaders of IT- market", reported the executive director GlobeTel To timoti Huff.

As a result the investor of project became Russian company "Naphtha- Moscow" (more precise, controlled to it Internafta), which in two years will put in the construction of network $600 of million.

In "Naphtha- Moscow" participation in the project they confirmed, but to comment on the details of understanding with GlobeTel refused. "we usually do not tell about our new projects", reported to "business" director on the investments "Naphtha- Moscow" Anton Averin. According to information GlobeTel, first $150 million, which will go to the payment of equipment and building WiMax- network in ten cities, Internafta invest already during January.

Entire project razbit to three stages, which GlobeTel will intend to realize in the course of 27 months. It is thus far known only that the first test zones WiMax will become Moscow and Petersburg; other cities, where will be turned network, are not called. On the completion of project network will govern company NuTel Wireless, 100% of actions of which belong to that created GlobeTel and Internafta European Joint Venture.

Subsequently GlobeTel it plans to obtain to 50% of incomes from the operation of network, which will compose $350-500 million per month.

The plans of company are extremely arrogant: in two years it will intend to obtain 10 million subscribers and 30% of entire market for the wide-band access in Russia. In this case as yet it is not possible to name its price competitive: monthly subscriber GlobeTel will pay for the access into the Internet and the telephony from $35 to $50. "typical Russian user pays for the access into Internet $75-100 per month, they count in GlobeTel.- the entrance into the network at our tariffs will manage to it less than into $50 per month ".

It is worthwhile, however, to note that today the users pay on the average $20, and for the telephony less than $10 per month for the wide-band Internet. Very competitive tariffs are proposed in Moscow, but with the development of market prices are reduced also in the regions.

Taking into account extremely rigid competition in the market for the access into the Internet, analyst and participants in the market very with restraint evaluate the realism of statements GlobeTel. "plans are clearly overstated, counts Boris Ovchinnikov from J'son & Partners.- it will be impossible to find 10 million subscribers, ready to pay on $35-50 per month, accurately ". Actually, the today weekly audience Of runeta counts those same of 10 million users; moreover these are the clients of operators and fixed connection, and wireless. In all the Internet in Russia use about 17 million people. "it is at present very complicated to compete with the daughterly companies" Of svyaz'investa ", which actively move the chosen Internet, and ADSL, tells in Pavel Tereshchenko, the business manager OF THE PRIVATELY HELD COMPANY" Of sinterra ", which unrolled the first network preWiMax in Moscow.- and although the speed in networks WiMax is above, to speak about the achievement in this technology of market thus far early, since price WiMax- equipment several times higher than cost of standard ADSL- modem ". Let us refine: the mean price of equipment for the wireless networks WiMax is about $500; connection to ADSL stand in Moscow of approximately $100, $50 of which are fallen to the modem. Tereshchenko acknowledges that expanded Of "tyuis sinterroy" in summer year the Moscow network WiMax thus far "assembles" only corporate users.

And consider investments in $600 million "very large". For the comparison, into the project Of "korbiny tele-kilohms" by construction of the optovolokonnoy network in the capital, about which it was declared month ago, are invested $72 million; in this case the company is intended to engage the same 30% of market for wide-band access.

"it is not entirely understandable, will go the money" of naphtha "only for the construction of network or in $600 million the expenditures for transport, purchase of real estate and marketing are included, discusses analyst iKS-Consulting Constantine Akilov.- such investments will be paid only with the collection of the 10- millionth user base, and this under today's conditions for the development of market is very complex ". Now wireless access obespechivayutboleye of 280 providers on entire Russia. "more than ten companies declare about the plans of the construction of networks WiMax, he says Akilov.- so that to engage even 10% of market for wide-band access is possible, only if the substantial part of the declared investments leaves to the advertisement ".

Boris Ovchinnikov also considers investments into $600 million V the "unverified" technology as those not justified. "short term result - an increase in the share quotations of company GlobeTel (after declaration about the project they grew almost doubly.- "business") - is obtained, he says.- but will be here built networks and they will be paid, a large question ".

Despite the fact that this project thus far causes many questions, its start confirms that the profound changes await the Russian market for the wide-band access into the Internet. The past in summer immediately two companies - "sinterra" and "To mediaseti" - declared about the beginning of the building of the networks of wireless connection WiMax. In the fall of 2005 the provider Of "korbina tele-kilohms" declared about the Moscow expansion, after which it became known about sale to company to the structures, close to the holding Of "renova". It is interesting that the investments into project WiMax from GlobeTel also arrived from the side of nonspecialized investor.

Business newspaper "business"

http://www.sostav.ru/news/2006/01/11/51/