"Southern telecommunication company" (STC) Open JSC is planning in 2004 to upgrade the multiservice network and data transfer network on the basis on the American Cisco Systems equipment.

According to the company press release, in particular, STC is planning to upgrade 84 centres of access to data transfer network and to introduce 37 new centres. This also includes introduction of 5481 ADSL Internet access ports, 1546 dedicated communication access ports, and 3212 dial-up ports. Equipment replacement and construction of multiservice data transfer network will be conducted on the territory of Volgograd region, Stavropol region, North Osetia and Kabardino-Balkaria. Also in STC branch in Rostov region it is planned to install radioaccess equipment to data transfer system. In Astrakhan region there will be a switch from ATM to IP technology.

According to the press release, transport network expansion is also planned in other STC branches, synchronized with growth of demand for data transfer services. Development of the multiservice network and data transfer network is a part of the STC programme for new technology development. As a result of its realization, in 2004 it is planned to increase the company revenue from new communication services by 61.7% - up to 5.2% in the structure of the company tariff income, says the release.

STC Open JSC is the biggest telecommunication operator in the South of Russia. The JSC activity embraces the territory of 520 thousand square km with over 18.1 m people.