ALBtelecom supports the creation of “Protik” center

TIRANA, Oct. 24 – Fixed line operator and internet provider, Turkish owned ALBtelecom, has supported the creation of Information and Communication Technology Treatment & Resource Center (‘PROTIK” Center). The center in question is a public-private partnership between several partners: the Albanian Government, Albanian American Foundation for Development (AADF), USAID, Albania Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, and is due to start operating next spring. The General Director of ALBtelecom and Eagle Mobile, Dr. Orhan Coșkun, said after the ceremony that the creation of such a center is of great importance. He said that Albtelecom is proud to support a project which is one of the focuses of world’s most modern economies. Mr. Coșkun said that the increase and improvement of communication and information further enhance the development of a society; therefore ALBtelecom and Eagle Mobile have focused their investments on this direction. Coșkun said that the two companies have realized an investment volume, which amounts to 150 million Euros. “We are proud and happy to support such an initiative. Aware of the importance of communication enhancement, only during the last 3 years ALBtelecom and Eagle Mobile have invested about 150 million Euros in infrastructure. Our network of optical fiber is increased by 200%, while broadband Internet capacity is increased 100 times”, said Mr. Coșkun. The General Director of ALBtelecom and Eagle Mobile went on to say that the investments of both companies have made the prices of internet service fall significantly (in the last three years, 1 Mbps Internet subscription has fallen 70%). According to him, this has led to a significant shrink of the digital division between citizens of areas with access to Information Communication Technology and those without access. “Information and Communication Technology deals directly with the application and access to information technology for poverty reduction, and therefore I am convinced that the Resource and Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology, will have a significant impact on improving income on education, health, safety and any other aspects of society’s development”, he said. In his speech at the opening ceremony of this center, the Minister for Innovation, Genc Pollo said that “PROTIK” is an important step in advancing digital Albania. “Through key partners such as USAID, and AADF in cooperation with global corporations like Microsoft, Cisco and HP, as well as Albtelecom, we will create a point of excellence, a shaft of promoting the knowledge and skills in the field of Information Technologies and adopting global best practices, “said Pollo. Prime Minister Sali Berisha said in his speech that public-private partnership for the opening of “PROTIK” center carries a great importance in encouraging and promoting innovation. “In this case, I want to express my heartfelt thankfulness to USAID Director, Mr. Williams, who has the merit of a very important promoter of this center, I want to thank the Albanian-American Fund for Development, to greet members of the Board, I thank Microsoft Corporation and Albtelecom, who in their joint efforts open this center today, a center of great importance for the training and qualification of Albanian experts to catch up with the big mobile horizons of the digital world “, said Premier Berisha . The Project of “PROTIK” Center aims at complementing the market with educational activities, supportive services, a modern technological environment and research activities, and it will also support activities aiming at the promotion of new technological products in the market.