The Chkalov village community has started the construction of the water supply network

 The Chkalov village of Lori region has a history of 250 years. One of the most vital issues of the community is the absence of the drinking water supply network. The only spring situated in the center of the village, from which the villagers take water, is getting scarce. People have to get to the spring from morning till late evening to have water for the basic needs of the household.

According to the press service of VivaCell-MTS, propelling the personal volunteering initiatives, VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian has donated AMD 8 200 000 from his personal funds for the construction of the drinking water supply network in the village. Owing to the investment 5.5 km of the 20 km-long water pipeline has already been constructed. 74 households will become the beneficiaries of the implemented project.

These voluntary initiatives, as stated by VivaCell-MTS General Manager, are meant to set an example for people to follow. We as individuals are as responsible as companies in this country.  Such a commitment is also important from the point of view of increasing the awareness and forming a responsible attitude among the beneficiaries of the implemented projects. The Chkalov villagers realize that drinking water is vital resource and water efficiency derives from the sense of responsibility towards the future generations. Moreover, the young people constructing the water pipeline try to avoid massive logging: In some stages of the construction they refuse using special machinery and rely on manual work.

For years, the project of constructing a water supply network could not be implemented because of the scarcity of the community budget. Today, the problem of funds is solved, and the villagers' only concern is finishing the construction works as soon as possible. The road from the headwater to the village center is hard to surmount, but the inhabitants of Chkalov are excited at the thought that the problem of drinking water will no longer bother them by winter. They emphasize that devotion is what unites the people implementing the project and those supporting the network construction.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is Armenia's leading mobile operator, having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G network reach and spreading a wide range of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July 2005 and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base.  VivaCell-MTS drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any development serving the Armenian mobile communications market.  The company follows the guidance provided by ISO 26000 (International Standard of Social Responsibility).  For more information, visit www.mts.am

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice, broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the world's fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers. The Group has been awarded GSM licenses in Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus, a region that boasts a total population of more than 200 million. Since June 2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at www.mtsgsm.com