TV cable operator and Internet service provider Astral Telecom posted turnover worth 15 million dollars over the first six months of the year, up almost 45% as compared to the year-ago period, Aurel Costea, the company's general manager, told Ziarul Financiar.
Over the next 18 months, Astral will invest 15-20 million dollars, 6-8 million of which by January 1, 2002. "Our entire profit (which was not disclosed) is re-invested, aiming at network upgrading and modernisation, increased number of subscriptions by approaching new markets and providing higher-quality services, by management and personnel improving," says Costea.
Astral Telecom chose the HFC (hybrid fibre optics) solution for network reconstruction and upgrading, to be applied to all networks counting more than 10,000 subscribers.
Astral currently owns over 200 kilometres of fibre optics already installed and several dozens of networks dedicated to the clients of data transmission, Internet and Intranet services. Plans for the near future include the installation of over 560 kilometres of fibre optics.
The cable TV division of Astral telecom group boasts more than 650,000 customers, as compared to the 600,000 it had at the end of December 2000. "We believe that we rank first on the cable TV market, but we do not necessarily pursue this target," Costea states.
The company offers three types of services: the social package (10-12 channels), the basic package (24-32 channels) and pay TV (HBO). Through network development and upgrading, Astral Telecom is also planning to widen its channel offer.
"By January 2002, we intend to offer another one or two extra basic packages. In the long term, we want to broaden the offer of pay TV and premium packages," Aurel Costea maintains.
The Internet division of Astral group now boasts over 1,000 online beneficiaries and more than 6,000 clients of dial-up or pre-paid services, accounting for a 20% increase as compared to December 2000. "According to these figures, I believe we rank amongst the first 10-12 Internet service providers," Costea considers.
Several days ago, Astral launched its eighth ISP unit, in Mangalia, following the ones based in Cluj, Bucharest, Ploiesti, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Braila, Galati and Brasov.
Astral also holds the www.kappa.ro portal and several freemail sites. For the remote areas, the company uses its own radio network, as well as telephone connections.
Following last year's takeover of Kappa (a transaction standing at about $8m, according to sources close to the deal), Astral has been negotiating an alliance with DNT, a company that made it to the top of Romanian ISPs.
When the telecom market is liberalised, in 16 months' time, the company will have 35 "turnkey" networks aimed at local or national connection.
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