Armenia became the first country in the near abroad to be using Rostelecom services under the company’s own brandname, the vice-president of the Russia-based company said.

As Naum Marder told a December 18 news conference in Yerevan, the new type of work will produce a synergetic effect to serve as a good cooperation example.

As the director general of GNC-ALFA CJSC, Rostelecom subsidiary, Hayk Faramazyan said, the services will be provided under Rostelecom brandname, with a $12 million investment to be provided in 2013 to expand the company’s presence. The company’s investments in 2012 amounted to $10 mln.

“The investment will allow fulfilling the company’s ambitious plans by carving its own niche in Armenia’s retail sector to cover virtually all the cities in Armenia,” he said.

Earlier, GNC Alfa CJSC, the affiliate company of Rostelecom OJSC long-distance telephony provider entered the Armenian market.

GNC-ALFA has launched fixed telephony and broadband Internet services, with ITV catch-up to be included in the package later.

GNC-ALFA is one of the leading telecom operators in Armenia, with a network based on fiber-optic cable. The company’s service portfolio includes data transmission, broadband Internet, IP transit, voice, international leased lines. It operates in all the provinces of Armenia with network coverage in more than 47 cities.