SMARTS came to the road. The mobile network operator began implementation of the project worth 145 billion rubles

The Samara mobile network operator SMARTS began implementation of the pilot project on laying of fiber-optical communication lines in a body of highways


The Samara mobile network operator SMARTS began implementation of the pilot project on laying of fiber-optical communication lines in a body of highways. In total in the company intend to lay 150 thousand km of VOLS in a body of highways, including nearly 40 thousand km – on federal highways to the centers of 83 regions of Russia. The total cost of the project is estimated at 145 billion rubles. In SMARTSE hope that private investors will take part in its realization. According to experts, will be to find investors for this project quite really, however everything will depend on what will be cooperation conditions.

SMARTS started implementation of the pilot project on laying of fiber-optical communication lines (VOLS) in a body of highways. At the moment the company finished design of a pilot zone on a site "Samara – Kinel – Pleasant" with a general extent of 120 km, the press service of the government of the Samara region reports.

JSC SMARTS is included into the group of companies of the same name which provides communication services to subscribers of the Volga region and the Central Russia. The cover zone of a signal of a network includes 12 regions. According to the list of affiliates, 34,775% SMARTSA belong to the Samara businessman Gennady Kiryushin, 12,45% – to Konstantin Kiryushin, 17,45% – to Yulia Kiryushina, 19,975% – Angentro trading and investment limited, 12,225% – Bolaro holdings ltd. The revenue of JSC SMARTS for 2012 made 1,7 billion rubles, a loss – 167 million rubles. The consolidated subscriber base of group of companies for January 1, 2011 made 2,5 million subscribers. According to ACM Consulting, for the end of the third quarter 2013 the operator served 1,7 million subscribers. At different times since 2007 declared "Vympelcom", "MegaFon", MTS, "Svyazinvest" and "Tele2" plans of purchase of the company.

In total within the pilot project of SMARTS it intends to lay 150 thousand km of VOLS in a body of highways, including nearly 40 thousand km – on federal highways to the centers of 83 regions of Russia. "Today we finished works on a site "Samara – Kinel – Pleasant". In the next plans – the covering over 1600 km of roads in the Samara region", – was told by "Kommersant" the chairman of the board of directors of JSC SMARTS Gennady Kiryushin. According to him, completely the project is planned to realize in 3-5 years.

Mister Kiryushin notes that laying of VOLS in a body of highways, in comparison with the ways which are traditionally used in Russia, has a number of advantages. "Expenses on construction of one km of VOLS are 2-3 times lower. Expenses on design and by 2-6 times – terms are more than twice cut down. Besides, that is not less important, by 2-3 times expenses on operation of VOLS are cut down", – mister Kiryushin notes. According to him, start of the project will allow to increase the speed of Internet access to 1 Gbit / with per capita.

By estimates SMARTSA, laying of 150 thousand km of VOLS in a body of highways will cost the companies 145 billion rubles. According to Gennady Kiryushin, the project will be realized within state-private partnership. "Today we already have potential investors. Besides, shareholders SMARTSA are ready to be enclosed in construction of VOLS", – mister Kiryushin reported.

According to experts, will be to find investors for this project quite really, however everything will depend on what will be cooperation conditions. "Large business will be ready to take part in a role of the younger partner only in case of active participation from the state. The matter is that it is about very expensive infrastructure project with a payback period not less than 7-8 years, and for stimulation of an investment demand guarantees on implementation of the orders financed by the authorities are necessary. Yes, of course, the Internet promptly develops, and this very perspective direction, but for an assessment of appeal is very important to understand all potential opportunities", – the asset manager of FC AForex Sergey Kovzharov speaks. It should be noted that project SMARTSA in April was approved by the supervisory board of Agency of strategic initiatives under the chairmanship of the president of Russia Vladimir Putin.

In the government of the Samara region positively estimate project SMARTSA. "After its realization Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation will receive the national infrastructure which is completely satisfying to requirements of the automated intellectual transport systems of highways. Construction of the VOLS high-level network will provide fully transport resources for implementation of the Federal target program "Electronic Russia", and that, probably, the most important, will provide with the Internet all population of our country", – the head of department of information technologies and communication of the Samara region Stanislav Kazarin considers.



Ekaterina Vyyushkova
Businessman / the Samara
 No. 89 of 27.05.14