---
title: New tech for old in Russia and Ukraine - Developing Telecoms
description: Phase-outs of two forms of telecoms technology are under way in Russia and Ukraine. While the contexts differ, both phase-outs aim to improve and modernise end user connectivity – eventually.
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Phase-outs of two forms of telecoms technology are under way in Russia and Ukraine. While the contexts differ, both phase-outs aim to improve and modernise end user connectivity – eventually.

In Russia, the state-opened operator Rostelecom plans to decommission all payphones in settlements with a population of more than 1,000 people. It will do the same where the population is less than 1,000 people in cases where 2020 traffic was less than one minute per month.

The aim, according to Russia’s ComNews site, will be to use the funds saved on operating payphones to install either base stations that enable 4G internet access or Wi-Fi access points. The entire effort comes within the framework of the country’s digital divide elimination project (DID).

In Ukraine meanwhile, another set of CDMA-based services is about to say goodbye as operator Intertelecom continues its CDMA phase-out by ceasing CDMA voice telephony services in 13 regions from 1 July 2021.

But CDMA voice customers apparently have nothing to worry about. According to TeleGeography's CommsUpdate, Intertelecom has struck an agreement with nationwide operator Ukrtelecom to re-register CDMA telephony users’ phone numbers in all 13 regions to Ukrtelecom’s GSM/3G-based fixed telephony service on an opt-in basis, allowing customers to continue using an existing regional or district telephone number, although a suitable handset will be required.

A VoIP-based SIP telephony service from Intertelecom itself will also be an option. This is described on the Intertelecom site as a unique service with which it is possible to purchase and connect both a mobile and a direct city number in just a few clicks, both on a contractual and non-contractual basis, without having to visit a store and buy a SIM card.

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