Armenia is most open country for innovation in region: Wojciech Biden

YEREVAN-BARCELONA, 12 MARCH, ARMENPRESS: Among the countries of the former Soviet Union, Armenia occupies a special place in the development of the digital sphere, because in the sector of technological modernization there is a huge support from the Government. The operators of portable networks in Armenia quickly respond to the market demands and global innovations. The director of Ericsson Company’s pivotal clients work Wojciech Biden stated this in an interview to “Armenpress”.

- How do You evaluate the activities of Ericsson Company in Armenia in recent 6 years?

- The Armenian market is quite interesting to us, and there we were able to carry out a successful operation in the various fields. All began in 2009, when we set the basis of cooperation with Ucom Company, helping the company to invest in new IP television system. As Armenia today, we are cooperating with almost all mobile operators in the country. Today in Armenia we are almost collaborating with the all mobile operators. In the territory of Armenia we don’t cooperate only with Orange, but in global level Ericsson is the preferred partner of Orange.

- What programs do you carry out jointly with the Armenian Government?

- At this moment, we have been cooperating with the Government of the Republic of Armenia in two projects sectors; those are electronic healthcare and digitization of television. The implementation of two projects we've got by taking part and winning the public competitions. At the moment, the electronic health plan based on our customers and mutual agreement is temporarily slow, which is conditioned by purchasing equipment and implementing documentation works.

Next year, in January the pilot project will begin, followed by the program of commercial exploitation in the Republic. By this system the doctor will be able to see the visitor through the visitor’s healthcare story, as well as send the prescription to pharmacy closer to the house of visitor, where the employee will be able to give the right medicine and the appropriate dose, which is assigned by the doctor.

- How easy it would be to implement such a system in Armenia, taking into account that every doctor should be compelled to buy a computer or tablet?

- In fact, the technique is not a problem; because this program is possible to use even in the cheapest tablet. During the importation of this system our biggest challenge is not the purchase of equipment or any other technical problem, but the doctors are reluctant to work with the new system and many of them are from elder generation and avoid having a work with a computer or tablet.

- The launch of digital TV in Armenia is announced that will be held this year in the beginning of July. Is it realistic, regarding the country's geographical peculiarities?

- The analogical TV digitization program will enable all regions of the country to solve the digitization of television, which assumes to include from Yerevan to the highland villages. Last November, we implemented the first signal transmission testing and last implementation phase of work will start in spring, in order to start the operation of digital television on July, in Armenia. As a result of that the television broadcast quality will be at the same level in Yerevan and mountainous areas.

- Beside the aforesaid programs, in Armenia, in which sector can be expected the implantation of projects?

- As I said, the most open country in the region towards innovation is Armenia, because the government realizes their importance and allocates remedies for the implementation. Such an each program requires a minimum investment of several million dollars, which pays the government.

I think that it will be interesting to apply in Armenia the Estonian version, where was created smart meter energy-saving system, that in advance by planning switches the washing machine or dishwasher machine, as well as gives the ability to avoid some of the problems, which are arising during the measurement of energy bills. We also think that the importation of elements of “smart city” will be interesting to the Yerevan Municipality, which can be implemented through a joint program with the operators. Over the next two years or until 2018 we will witness many innovations.

Interview by Anahit Minasyan