Rostelecom (NYSE: ROS; RTS, MICEX: RTKM, RTKMP), Russia's national long-distance telecommunications operator, today announced the launch of a new fiber optic line between Kaliningrad, Gvardeisk and Sovetsk with access to the digital trunk network of Russia, and the commissioning of an international switching centre in Kaliningrad.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place in the format of simultaneous videoconferences between Kaliningrad, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Included among the speakers were acting Minister of Telecommunications of the Russian Federation, Leonid D. Reyman, the Governor of the Kaliningrad region, Vladimir G. Yegorov, General Director of Rostelecom, Dmitry Y. Yerokhin, and General Director of North-West Telecom, Sergei Kuznetsov.

The Governor of the Kaliningrad region, Vladimir G. Yegorov said in his speech: «The low level of digitalization of telecommunications equipment constrained the development of the region's information systems and its integration into Russia's communications network. Construction of the new fiber-optic line enables the Kaliningrad region to implement projects aimed at the creation of an information society, including tracking the trans-border movement of people and goods, ensuring widespread access to information on public services, development of telemedicine and remote education, implementation of which is provided for in the federal Electronic Russia (E-Russia) program».

Commenting on the introduction of the new trunk telecommunications line, Rostelecom's General Director, Dmitry Y. Yerokhin, said, «Implementation of this project enabled us to digitalize Kaliningrad's trunk network and to ensure high quality telecom connections between this region and the rest of Russia. The introduction of the fiber-optic line and international switching center creates the opportunity for substantial domestic and international long-distance traffic growth, dynamic development of the Internet network and more aggressive introduction of new services in the region».