Beltelecom to offer Skype-like service in 2013

The Belarusian national telecom operator Beltelecom will launch an eSpace service that will be similar to the well-known communication service Skype. The information was released by Beltelecom Director General Mr Sergei Popkov on 20 February, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian equivalent of the Skype service is supposed to go online in 2013. The platform has not been tested yet. The service will allow customers to use voice communication while paying for data traffic instead of connection minutes.

Unlike Skype Beltelecom’s new service will be available only to subscribers of the national telecom operator. The service will be assigned to a fixed phone number. In other words, a fixed phone number will be usable on a personal computer or a mobile phone. “We will give more functionality to fixed phone numbers by allowing people to use them in other areas and other devices,” said Beltelecom Deputy Director General for Technology Mr Sergei Sivodedov.