On 9th April 2009 the ceremony of opening the 350 km Inta-Vorkuta fibre-optic communication line took place. By implementing this project, OJSC N.W. Telecom will provide the residents of the northernmost city of the Republic of Komi, one of the few Russia 's trans-polar cities, with the up-to-date quality telecommunication services.

The ceremony of opening the fibre-optic communication line was held as a video conference. A space bridge connected Vorkuta with St. Petersburg, Syktyvkar and Cherepovets, the city of metallurgists.

Vladimir Alexandrovich Torlopov, Head of Republic of Komi, his deputies , Oleg Alexeyevich Altukhov, Chief Federal Inspector in the Republic of Komi, Valery Fyodorovich Kyurshin, representative of the Republic of Komi in the Northwestern Federal District , and Valery Leonidovich Budovsky, Head of the Administration of MO GO (Municipal Entity/City District) Vorkuta, were present in the Syktyvkar studio. St. Petersburg was represented in the ceremony of opening the fibre-optic communication line by Yevgeny Vladimirovich Lukyanov, Deputy Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District, Igor Leonidovich Shpektor, President of the Association of the Cities of the Transpolar Region and Extreme North of Russia and Ex-Mayor of Vorkuta, and Vladimir Alexandrovich Akulich, General Manager of OJSC N.W.Telecom. Vikenty Alexandrovich Kozlov, Regional   Director – Manager of the Komi Branch of OJSC N.W.Telecom , Alexandr Ivanovich Olexenko, Director of OOO PMK-307, OAO Svyazstroy-3, and representatives of the major companies of the city were present in the Vorkuta studio. In Cherepovets the participants of the telebridge were greeted by representatives of the Severstal company, which is the main consumer of coal from Vorkuta, and Andrey Stepanovich Ganov, Manager of the Vologda Branch of OJSC N.W.Telecom.

The Head of Republic of Komi congratulated all residents of Vorkuta on the important event, due to which Vorkuta joined the single information and communication space of Russia and received the opportunity of developing even more confidently and efficiently. V. A. Torlopov thanked North-West Telecom for its contribution to the development of telecommunications in remote northern territories of the Republic, read the Decree on awarding V. A.   Akulich , General Manager of OJSC N.W.Telecom , the Diploma of Merit of the Republic of Komi and expressed his hope for further cooperation.

Besides, the workers of OJSC N.W.Telecom who directly participated in implementing the project of the Inta-Vorkuta fibre-optic communication line construction were awarded Diplomas of Merit of the Republic of Komi and of the Ministry of Industry and Power Engineering of the Republic, Diplomas of Merit and Letters of Appreciation of the MO GO Vorkuta and other awards.

In response V. A. Akulich thanked everybody who participated in implementing this unique project that was realized within the framework of the Agreement   between the Government of the Republic of Komi and OJSC N.W.Telecom and noted once again its complexity and importance . The General Manager of OJSC N.W.Telecom stressed that the construction of digital communication lines will be continued in the Republic. "This is really very important both for residents and for the enterprise s of the Extreme North – not to feel separated or remote, to get telecommunication services of the same quality as in other regions, to have the same possibilities of communication and information exchange."

V. L. Budovsky, Head of the Vorkuta Administration, said in his speech of thanks that "the communication line was not just a technological novelty for Vorkuta. It symbolized the hope that the city had prospects and that it would develop. New enterprise s and new mines would be opened."

It was announced during the telebridge that the number of subscriber s of the Internet broadband access service under the Avangard trade mark reached 50,000 in the Republic of Komi. Another jubilee subscriber was connected to Avangard in Vorkuta.

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The construction of the fibre-optic communication line to Vorkuta has been one of the most complicated projects implemented by OJSC N.W. Telecom in the territory of the Republic of Komi.  

The construction of the Inta-Vorkuta fibre-optic communication line was started on 1st July 2008. Cable laying was completed on 28th November 2008. On 30th March 2009 the Board of the Federal Telecommunication and Mass Communication Supervision Service for the Republic of Komi issued the permission of line operation.  

The length of the fibre-optic communication line with its branches is 350 km. This includes sections of permafrost – 70 km, and marshes - more than 20 km. The construction and installation was performed by contractor s from PMK-307, OAO Svyazstroy-3. Cable was laid under most complicated climatic conditions: from the slush period till 30 degrees centigrade below zero. Crossings over scores of brooks, 17 small rivers, Usa river, which is over 600 m wide, and 8 crossings over railway tracks and other lines were made using the up-to-date facilities for making hidden crossings. Over 50 persons were constantly working on the route. The project has been successfully implemented ahead of the schedule.