TELECOMMUNICATIONS

In January to May 2005 the communications enterprises provided population and economic subjects with services worth 751.3bn manats ($159m), or 31.2% over the year-on-year indicator. 27.3% of services fell on public sector, while 72.7% - on private sector. The services grew 11% and 40.2% respectively. 75.2% of all services was delivered to population.

Major indices of communications enterprises

Source: State Statistics Committee

4/5 of communications services fell on mobile communications. Incomes from communications grew 1.7 times as compared to 2004 and comprised 585.5bn manats. At present the mobile phone subscribers exceed 1.7 million, or 45.1% up as compared to last year. Azercell holding over 1.3 million subscribers controls 85% of the Azerbaijani mobile communications market, while the network covers 73% of the country’s territory.

The investments in the telecommunications sector of Azerbaijan in this period comprised 25,433.8bn manats ($2,618m). The capital was manly directed at the reconstruction of telephone stations in Azerbaijan. In this period Aztelecom PA invested 9,420,2bn manats ($1,984m), Baku Telephone Communications PA вЂ" 12,226,4m manats ($2,575m), Teleradio PA вЂ" 1,517,6bn ($0,32m), Azerpochta State Enterprise вЂ" 1,201bn manats ($0,253m).