UTK’s Astrakhan branch plans to complete introduction of the universal service in April of 2007.  The Company is proposing a phased approach to installation of 421 payphones in the Astrakhan region. At the first phase 161 payphones will be installed in the localities having technical possibility for their connection. The second phase will involve distant  localities where 142 payphones will be installed using Globalstar satellite radio access equipment. The Company  is to install 22 payphones manufactured by Globalstar by the end of 2006. During the previous month the Company  installed 61 payphones in Narimanovskiy and Privolzhskiy regions. The third and fourth phases provide for construction of new cable lines. Universal services using payphones will be offered throughout the territory of the Astrakhan region including Akhtubinskiy region and ZATO Znamensk, Krasnoyarskiy municipal region, Yenotaevskiy and Chernoyarskiy regions, Limanskiy and Ikryaninskiy regions, the city of Kharabali and Kharabalinskiy municipal region, Volodarskiy region, the city of Astrakhan and Privolzhskiy and Narimanovskiy regions adjacent to the city.