MTU-Inform company is announcing the creation of a united control center of the data communications networks of the MTU-Inform and Golden Line companies. This completes the first stage of integration of the two networks as part of the formation of the united digital communications carrier.

The equipment of the united control center is located in different offices and divided in such a way that possible faults could be cleared independently. The purpose of this division is to ensure fault-tolerant operation of both the control center and the networks under its control.

The next stage envisages an upgrade of the networks of the MTU-Inform and Golden Line companies. It is planned that duplicate equipment will be released, equipment at 60 ATM nodes and software at 220 nodes of both networks will be replaced. This equipment will be used to extend network coverage and increase the capacity of the most important points of presence. The estimated cost of the upgrade of both networks amounts to about $4 million. The project due date is August, 2003.

"The upgrade is a prerequisite for the main process of integration of the data communications networks," -says Said Alimbekov, Director General of the MTU-Inform company. "The purpose of the integration is to reduce the cost of service provision and the cost of implementation of new services, and also to enhance the customer coverage capacity. Ultimately we shall operate the existing infrastructure more efficiently".