BELARUSIAN ECONOMY & TRADE

The Cable and Satellite Horizont Television Company (CST Horizont) plans to start serial production of satellite television sets in July 2005, informed the Head Engineer of the company Anatoli Bobylev.

The set will include a satellite tuner (Horizont 700D1 – Free-to-Air), a satellite frequency translator, and a 90-centimetre offset wall-mounted antenna. The company is certifying the products now.

The tuner is designed to receive free DVB-S standard signal (Digital Video Broadcasting over Satellite), which uses MPEG-2 compression.

The tuner can store settings for 3,000 programs, receive and display service information. Its handling is easy thanks to remote control, seven-day broadcasting program, multilingual menu, 4 favourite program lists, channel lock, still frame option.

In H2 2005 the enterprise plans to make 2,000 sets, but if there are more orders, the output will be larger. One set costs around $110.

Among the most important projects CST Horizont is implementing, Anatoli Bobylev mentioned the supply of optic nodes for interactive hybrid cable television systems and head-end stations for receiving and broadcasting SGC 600 digital television signal. The company plans to start producing the make at the end of the year.

In 2006 the company is expected to make around 150 head-end stations. The company plans to assemble approximately 500 optic nodes annually. Horizont plans to sell the make mainly to domestic consumers, including Minsk Television and Information Networks and other cable television companies in Minsk and the regions. In the future the company may start selling the make abroad, first of all, to Russia.

The head-end station price will depend on the configuration. The average price will be $4,000. Optic nodes for interactive hybrid systems will vary between $400-1,500 depending on the configuration adopted for various temperature conditions.

The Cable and Satellite Horizont Television Company (CST Horizont) is a part of the Horizont OJSC. Its product range developed by the Horizont Digital Television Institute includes cable television equipment such as power supply units, branches, adapters, radio receivers, and remote control units.

The quality of the make is testified by certificates of the Belarusian State Standardisation Committee and compliance certificates of the Russian Information Technology and Communication Ministry. The production unit of the Cable and Satellite Television Horizont is compliant with international quality management system ISO-9001.

17/02/2005

HORIZONT TO REFRESH PRODUCT RANGE BY 90% IN 2005

(on the information from Interfax)

The Open Joint Stock Company Horizont will increase the share of new models in the company’s product range up to 90% in 2005, informed the Head Engineer of the Horizont Digital Television Institute Sergei Gunko. In 2003 the share of new products made 84.6% of the total, in 2004 – 89.3%.

Last year Horizont launched the production of the talking TV set HUMANIK and LCD TV sets.

This year the company plans to present set-top box for receiving terrestrial digital TV signal DVB-T, noted the specialist. “It will be the first step in producing solutions, which use highly integrated element base,” he stated. In mid-spring the first batch of 100 set-top boxes will be produced.

Horizont continues perfecting HUMANIK TV set series. In Q2 2005 the company will also launch into production two new DVD players with brand new design and MPEG4 support along with a new home theatre with better technical characteristics. In June 2005 Horizont will start producing microwaves.

According to the company’s Economic Planning Department, in 2004 Horizont boosted TV set output by 94.1% on the year up to 730,600 units. In comparable prices commodity output totalled BYR 215.7 billion, 201.6% as against 2003.

In 2004 Horizont raised exports by 80.5% up on the year to a total of $56.5 million. The company sells the largest batches of TV sets in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Moldavia. The Commonwealth of Independent States members account for 90% of the company’s exports.

16/02/2005

BELFORTEX DEVELOPS NEW RADIO FUSE JAMMER

(on the information from Interfax)

Belarusian enterprise Belfortex has developed a portable device designed for jamming radio controlled actuating systems of explosive charges.

The jammer generates a complex spectrum signal to suppress the encoded signal transmitted by the command transmitter.

The jammer is a single module fitted with hidden antennas. An AC power source or a storage battery charges the device. Automatic equipment controls the required battery charging mode, working environment and operating status. The device can be used by special operations units to prevent terrorist attacks.

The source reminded, Belfortex won an international tender for supplying 13 bomb containment trailers to South Korea airports to contribute to the security of the 2002 World Football Championship.

09/02/2005

“HORIZONT” TO PRESENT NEW DESIGN TVs THIS SUMMER

(on the information from Interfax)

OJSC Horizont plans to start producing new design TV sets this summer, the company informed.

“New flat screen TV sets will have TRINITY+ function, built-in BAZZOOKA sound system, and HUMANIK voice control”.

“The latter includes voiced greeting, farewell, and voiced controls,” specialists specified.

The new series will include 55 cm and 72 cm screen TV sets. TV sets with smaller screens, which are most popular on the market, will be presented earlier.

The first batch of new TV sets with 55 cm screens will be as large as at least 1,000 items, TV sets with 72 cm screens – at least 200 items. “The production will follow paying demand on the home and foreign markets,” specialists stated.

Foreign currency proceeds grew 82.9% up on 2003 to make $52.5 million. Last year Horizont raised exports by 80.5% up on the year to a total of $56.5 million. The company sells the largest batches of TV sets in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Moldavia. The CIS states account for 90% of the company’s exports.

Open joint-stock company Horizont, which comprises ten national unitary enterprises, was founded in December 2002 on the basis of Horizont production association. The plant was founded in 1950 as Minsk Radio Plant. The statutory fund of the open joint-stock company totals BYR 84.8 billion. At present, Horizont employs over 5,000 people.

21/01/2005

HORIZONT DESIGNS EXPERIMENTAL PLUGGABLE TV FOR REFRIGERATORS

(on the information from Interfax)

OJSC Horizont (Minsk) designed an experimental LCD TV set, which can be integrated into household refrigerators, Head Engineer of Horizont Digital Television Institute Sergei Gunko said.

“With this novelty housewives will be able to watch TV shows and cook at the same time with minimum space required,” he noted.

To design the pilot sample Horizont bought a refrigerator from CJSC Atlant (Minsk). “If consumers back our idea, we will propose co-operation to Atlant Company,” he added.

Sergei Gunko said, the TV set will be built in the upper door of the two-compartment refrigerator. The antenna will be plugged into the rear side of the refrigerator.

To design the pilot sample Horizont used a 15” LCD screen TV set with remote control, stereo sound, and power consumption under 70 W. The TV set can be built in any refrigerator.

The company plans to showcase the TV set at an exhibition dedicated to the Belarusian Science Day in Minsk on January 26-27. “We will monitor people’s response and will start marketing research,” he said. The marketing division of the company will carry out similar research in several CIS states, as “kitchens there are very much similar to Belarusian ones”. After receiving positive results Horizont will get down to deeper designing.

Sergei Gunko assumed, a refrigerator with a built-in TV set will cost approximately $800-900.

According to preliminary information provided by the company’s economic planning department, in 2003 Horizont produced around 400,000 TV sets worth $60 million, 12.3% up on 2002. Last year Horizont increased export by 80.5% in comparison with 2003. The CIS countries shared around 90% of the total export volume.

18/01/2005

HORIZONT PLANS TO BOOST EXPORT IN 2005

(on the information from Interfax)

OJSC Horizont is resolved to boost exports in 2005, deputy director general for sales and marketing of the plant Anatoli Valiev informed.

He is sure, “efficient implementation of marketing policies and advertising campaigns will facilitate mounting exports and exploring new markets.” Besides, Horizont plans to increase output by 12%.

Horizont’s business partners are more reliable than those of some other Belarusian firms, as Russia hosts a joint venture trading in the company’s TV sets. The venture will take up tax payment and documentation. Anatoli Valiev also stated, the share of minor dealers in Horizont produce in Russia is quite small.

He noted, the Belarusian TV maker might face demand reduction in view of price competition. He explained, after the states shift to the country-of-destination principle in the VT collection, Horizont might yield its market share to TVs imported to Russia from Asia without the VAT.

According to the planning an economic department, in 2004 the plant exported 500,000 TV sets to Russia. In January 2005, the plant opened an office in Kiev, where the company is set to “pursue an aggressive marketing policy to build up sales,” Anatoli Valiev said.

In 2004 Horizont boosted TV set output by 94.1% on the year up to 730,600 units. In comparable prices commodity output totalled BYR 215.7 billion, 201.6% as against 2003. Foreign currency proceeds grew 82.9% up on 2003 to make $52.5 million. Last year Horizont raised exports by 80.5% up on the year to a total of $56.5 million. The company sells large batches of TV sets in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Moldova. The CIS states account for 90% of the company’s exports.

Horizont production association, which comprises 4 television plants, was founded in 1950. December 2002 saw the company converted into an open joint stock company, which includes ten state-owned enterprises.

10/11/2004

“INTEGRAL” TO PARTAKE IN MICROCHIP DESIGN CENTRE PROJECT WITH VIETNAM

(on the information from Interfax)

Scientific and productive association Integral will take part in a project to set up a microchip design centre in Vietnam, company’s Science Director Anatoli Belous said.

Integral won a tender held by the Vietnamese government by offering better conditions than leading electronic companies of Japan, the USA, and China. As Vietnam has no electronics enterprises now, the government designed a national industry development concept to guide the industry development within the next 10-15 years. The tender was held as part of the programme.

Leadership of the largest Vietnamese Industrial Machinery and Instruments Holding and Integral company have already signed a general agreement to set up the microchip design centre.

The project will be divided into three sections. As long as two years, the first stage should see the opening of a Vietnamese microchip design centre, for which Integral will develop and supply software and hardware components. The design bureau, which is expected to be part of a holding’s company, will employ local specialists after one-two years of training in Belarus.

Within the next two-three years of the second stage, the design centre will be enlarged to include measurement, analysis, testing, and other divisions. The first two stages are expected to involve over $30 million of investments allocated by the Vietnamese holding and the Vietnamese government (around 20% of the sum).

At the final stage production facilities will be set up in Vietnam. Microchips will be produced by Belarus and assembled by Vietnam.

By December 30 Integral and IMI holding plan to sign a contract for the first stage of the Belarusian-Vietnamese project.

Integral scientific and productive association is the largest producer of microelectronic components in Europe. Created in 1962, it offers around 2,000 kinds of integral microchips, 500 types of semiconductors, 50 types of liquid crystal indicators and modules, 150 titles of electronics and consumer goods.

Microelectronics shares 70% of the company’s output.

08/11/2004

ON INCREASE OF EXPORT OF PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION “INTEGRAL” TO INDIA

(on the information from BelTA)

Over 9 months of 2004 the scientific and production association “Integral” has increased two times export volume to India. Now Belarus is exporting integrated circuits not only for telecommunications and illuminating engineering as before, but also for automobile electronics.

The integrated circuits manufactured by the “Integral” will be tested during 2005 in India – automobiles will be fit up with these chips. And after the testing the decision on further consignments will be made.

Besides, the plant has increased its exports to China by 20%. China is another large partner of the “Integral” outside the CIS. The Belarusian electronics undergoes long testing there as well. The export comprises chips for microcalculators, watches, telephones and power electronics. Japanese and Taiwan companies also purchase these products.

On the whole over 9 months of 2004 the scientific and production association “Integral” has increased its export to the countries outside the CIS by 15% against the same period last year.

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electronics

HORIZONT TO START SERIAL PRODUCTION OF SATELLITE TELEVISION SETS IN JULY

HORIZONT TO REFRESH PRODUCT RANGE BY 90% IN 2005

BELFORTEX DEVELOPS NEW RADIO FUSE JAMMER

“HORIZONT” TO PRESENT NEW DESIGN TVs THIS SUMMER

HORIZONT DESIGNS EXPERIMENTAL PLUGGABLE TV FOR REFRIGERATORS

HORIZONT PLANS TO BOOST EXPORT IN 2005

“INTEGRAL” TO PARTAKE IN MICROCHIP DESIGN CENTRE PROJECT WITH VIETNAM