YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Construction of a new fixed-line phone network for 20 thousand subscribers has started in Gyumri. According to ArmenTel, all residents and organizations of the city will have the opportunity to make use of modern services of the new phone network. The subscriber phone network of Gyumri was badly damaged by the 1988 earthquake and is now in unsatisfactory state. The constrcution of Gyumri city phone network has been included in ArmenTel's development programs several times but later delayed for various reasons. It is envisaged to complete the first stage of the construction in late 2007, while the second stage - at the end of the third quarter of 2008. Reconnection of subscriber phone lines will also be done in two stages. The Alcatel station, which was put into operation in Gyumri about a year ago, meets international standards and has a capacity of 32,000 phone numbers.

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