Uzbekistan to carry out 30mln dollars postal modernisation

Uzbekistan will carry out a program to modernise its postal services network by 2011 at a cost of about USD30 million, introducing and developing new services based on information and communications technologies, a source at the country’s Communications and IT Agency told Interfax.

The program will involve the introduction of new types of services at the automated nodes and divisions of national postal services operator Uzbekiston Pochtasy, which is controlled by the agency.

There are also plans to replace the postal company’s automobile fleet and install video surveillance and electronic control systems at regional post offices.

In the first phase, from 2005 to 2007, the country will build a telecommunications system to connect 14 regional branches and one specialised branch, 189 district and city postal services centers, and 622 urban and rural post offices.

In the second phase, from 2008 to 2010, there are plans to automate the remaining 1,865 urban and rural post offices, which will also be integrated into a corpo-rate communications network.

By 2010, the program aims to set up 204 public Internet access points at post offices for 1,065 users.

The program will be financed by Uzbekiston Pochtasy, the Information and Communications Technologies Development Fund, and foreign investors and foreign loans.

The feasibility study for the program was drafted by U.S. firm Rantek with grant money from USAID.

Uzbekistan’s postal services market grew by 18percent in 2004, to USD14.4 billion.