Sparsely populated settlements will be provided with mobile communication in Bashkortostan

UFA, 30 April 2015. /Bashinform News Agency, Arthur Basyrov/. Bashkortostan will provide mobile communication in sparsely populated settlements, where there are at least one thousand people. The agreement signed today, April 30, between the State Committee for Informatization RB and OJSC "VimpelCom" is aimed at reducing such "blank spaces".

“The document is aimed at working together to address the digital inequality in the republic. Operators cannot solve this problem by themselves. It is just unprofitable for them. We agreed that with joint efforts by seeking opportunities working with municipalities, we would try to lower the cost of the process. This refers to the preparation of infrastructure for providing telecommunications services. It concerns establishing stable communication channel to the sparsely populated areas and the installation of aerial structures,” the head of the Republican State Committee for Informatization Rinat Shagalin said.

The agreement is concluded for one year. The Committee plans to sign such documents with all mobile operators, which work in the territory of Bashkortostan. According to Rinat Shagalin in the future the problem of mobile communication in mountainous regions of the republic will be resolved too.

“The situation is more complicated in mountainous areas. There, except for antenna mast structures it is necessary to lay pretty long communication channels. Costs increase significantly. But modern technology is evolving, and we expect that it will be more accessible. For example, there are technologies that can transmit a signal over a certain distance; the equipment is suspended on an object that is in the air. Thus, coverage of communication extends. If these technologies are available, we will develop in this direction,” Rinat Shagalin stated.