On July 11, 2008 N.W.Telecom held a St. Petersburg – Syktyvkar – Ukhta – Ust’-Tsilma video bridge, during which the audiences of the four studios communicated online and could see a concert titled “Ust’-Tsilma! Place Dear to My Heart” and dedicated to the traditional holiday “Ust’-Tsilma Hill”.

The event was attended by official persons, representatives of the North-Western Federal District (NWFD) and Republic of Komi authorities, N.W.Telecom management, and cultural and scientific communities of the RK and St. Petersburg.

The video bridge became technically possible due to the completion of construction of a 293 km-long fiber optic communication line (FOCL) over the Irael-Izhma-Ust’Tsilma section.

The studio in St. Petersburg was attended by E. V. Lukyanov, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the RF President in the NWFD; V. A. Akulich, General Manager, N.W.Telecom; V. F. Kyurshin, representative of the Republic of Komi in the NWFD; Gyunesh Rustamzade, Consul of the Azerbaijan Republic; Ilkka Räisänen, Deputy Consul General, Republic of Finland; Eve Alte, Culture Consul of the Estonian Republic; O. A. Sosnovskaya, People’s Artist of the Republic of Komi, and members of the Komi community in St. Petersburg known as Nevatas.

Words of greeting and gratitude were said from the festive stage in Ust’-Tsilma by District Head A. F. Chuprov, RK Minister of Ethnic Policy V. I. Korobov, and B. L. Zabrovskaya, member of the Republic’s State Council and Chairperson of the Budget, Taxes, and Economic Policy Committee pf the RK Government, to be video broadcast.

In his speech, V. A. Torlopov called the Ust’-Tsilma Hill “a unique event not only within the Russian Federation but also outside it”, and thanked North-West Telecom “for its great contribution to the development of the Republic’s communications, Ust’-Tsilma being the fifth district center connected to the digital communication network in this year.”

V. A. Kozlov, regional director of the Komi Branch of N.W.Telecom, congratulated the Ust’-Tsilma people upon their holiday, and admired their willingness to stick to their ancestors’ culture, traditions, and customs. He also thanked everyone who had contributed to the unique FOCL construction and its fast completion, Namely the heads of administration of the districts where the optical communication line was constructed, the Republic’s Government, and PMK-307 LLC as the contractor. V. A. Kozlov noted that “due to the partnerlike relationships and cooperation between the Komi Government and N.W.Telecom, we easily achieve our goals.”

During the video bridge, V. A. Kozlov on behalf of N.W.Telecom General Manager V. A. Akulich handed the N.W.Telecom Badge of Honor to V. A. Torlopov, Head of the Republic of Komi. The Badge is the Company’s top award given to outstanding persons making an immense contribution to the development of the infrastructure and communications of the North-Western Federal District.

V. A. Akulich conveyed warm greetings to the people of Ust’-Tsilma and the whole Republic of Komi, “who can work devotedly and responsibly, absolutely fulfilling tasks assigned to them, and also celebrated their holidays in a warm and original way, keeping up their ancestors’ traditions and customs.” V. A. Akulich also expressed his hope for further efficient cooperation and understanding between N.W.Telecom and the Government of the Republic of Komi, which ultimately promote growth of prosperity of each of its residents.

The main component of the video bridge was a concert program from Ust’-Tsilma. It featured over 20 folklore companies not only from the district itself or the Republic of Komi, but also from other cities of Russia. Musical ensembles in the studios in St. Petersburg and Syktyvkar also supported the concert, thus becoming its active participants.

According to the concert presenter, the video bridge, which was enabled by the completion of a next FOCL section in the Republic of Komi, connected Ust’-Tsilma not only to Syktyvkar, Ukhta, and St. Petersburg, but also to the rest of the world, to become the most unusual and impressive start of the Ust’-Tsilma Hill, a traditional folk festival.

All interested Internet users could see the online broadcast of the concert and other festive events in Ust’-Tsilma Town on the website of the Komi branch of N.W.Telecom at https://komi.nwtelecom.ru.

------------------------------------------------------------------

The Irael-Izhma-Ust’Tsilma FOCL, 293 kilometers long, was built within an unprecedented short time, less than in one year. Installing this FOCL section, the builders made two most complicated cable crossings of the rivers Pechora and Izhma.

Currently, this FOCL section is operated in the test mode. Very soon, the up-to-date communication line will enable connection of schools, hospitals, and public authorities in Izhma District and Ust’-Tsilma District to the Internet and telephony; local residents will use the N.W.Telecom services at a qualitatively new level.