Vache Kirakosyan:

Armenian Government projects making optic Internet services accessible throughout Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Government of Armenia has approved Information Technologies support program. After all big towns are interconnected to one another via optical fiber network, e-Governance project will be launched. System of Electronic ID cards will be elaborated and introduced, electronic cards will replace passports inside the country. RA Economy Ministry's high tech and IT Department Head Vache Kirakosyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter about projected activities.
Please give details as to the essence of the program and activities undertaken so far.

The program has been already launched. Main activities aimed at IT industry development will be carried out within the third and fourth quarters of the current year. A notable event organized so far was our participation in the CeBIT major international exhibition in Germany early in March.

Exhibition-conferences DigiTech and ArmTech will be organized within the current year. The events will promote products and brands of Armenian IT companies. e Governance and introduction of electronic ID cards are on the agenda. Their fulfillment will become possible after a comprehensive information network is created.

It is also projected to launch joint projects with transnational corporations such as Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, HP and others.

The most important task of that project seems to be providing Internet access to all regions of Armenia. What measures are undertaken to improve the level of communication services for residents of distant areas?

Unfortunately, yes, the situation leaves much to be desired. Projects aimed at covering all territory of Armenia with a broadband Internet will start soon. Particularly, the communication will be established through optical network between all big centers of population.

There is such a network in some towns, for example, in Gyumri, but it is not properly used. The eGovernment project will be implemented concurrently. As soon as the network operates and certain software is developed, the population will have access to on-line services of the government.

Which services do you mean?

For instance, electronic payment of taxes, computer-based education, which is also called eEducation, on-line health services, or eHealth, etc. The system of electronic identification cards will be elaborated and introduced, which will replace in future passports inside the country. We expect tangible results in those spheres early next year.

You said "connect cities through optical network" and "eGovernance". You mean, the eGovernment, which has been spoken about for several years? Will the government lay its own optic fiber line or use the available one?

Yes, eGovernment is a part of global project on electronic governance. It will enable us to establish on-line communication either with population, or government authorities and organs.
Concerning optical highways, the government intends to elaborate a program with public and private participation. First of all the government seeks to examine where the available optical fiber network can be utilized and where it can be laid jointly with private organizations.

How local commercial organizations will be offered a possibility to take part in the program? Will big IT producers or
Internet service providers be involved in the project, in particular, in construction of the optical fiber network?

The issue of participation of private entities is yet discussed, we will elaborate a mechanism not to violate the competition rules in the market. We envisage active participation of local companies in the project, which will promote the development of the IT industry of the country.

We will involve expert group, since there will be a great deal of work to do. Perhaps, big Armenian businessmen will be involved, including representatives of Diaspora, who's knowledge and experience can render us a professional assistance. In any case, the whole project will be transparent.

I would like to emphasize the program "a computer per inhabitant", which was developed by the government. The program is projected for several years and will enable every citizen or every family to obtain a modern computer оn preferential terms. The program will be implemented with public and private close cooperation.
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