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According to a press release from Romania’s telecommunications regulator, ANRCTI, four operators won the right to install telecentres in 172 unserved and under-served rural areas. The winners of the final telecentre tender held by ANRCTI are AccessNet International, Rartel, the National Radiocommunications Company and Vodafone Romania.
AccessNet International will install 150 telecentres in 31 counties, Rartel 19 telecentres in 14 counties, the National Radiocommunications Company one telecentre and Vodafone Romania two telecentres.
The 172 telecentres will be installed as soon as the contracts are finalized between the tender winners, the local public administration authorities and ANRCTI. Within 15 days of contract signing, local governments must make available the space necessary for the telecentre’s operation. The maximum set-up time for the operators to begin telecentre operations is 120 days from the date the space was made available.
The net cost of the installation of the 172 telecentres is US$ 3.17 million, to be paid from the universal service fund. On average, the total cost of the equipment and maintenance of one telecentre for 3 years, as established by the tender, is US$ 18,400.
To date, ANRCTI has conducted tenders for the installation of telecentres in 633 localities. 350 telecentres are already functional. Following the seven tenders organized between 2004 and 2008, seven operators were designated as universal service providers and installed or will install telecentres. The successful bidders were: AccessNet International (150 telecentres), Euroweb (one telecentre), Orange Romania (95 telecentres), Rartel (81 telecentres), Romtelecom (9 telecentres), National Radiocommunications Company (199 telecentres) and Vodafone Romania (98 telecentres).
Each telecentre is equipped with at least two telephones, two computers with Internet connection and a fax machine. The telecentre’s services are available to the entire community. Source: ANRCTI - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.
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