Rostelecom Armenia's transformation into OVIO: What you need to know about it? Interview with Hayk Faramazyan

The rebranding of Rostelecom Armenia to OVIO is not just a name change; it marks the beginning of a new era, a new chapter in the company’s history, says Hayk Faramazyan, the CEO of OVIO.

In an interview with NEWS.am Tech within the framework of the Silicon Mountains Shirak technology summit, he spoke about what new offers the company has after the rebranding, the interesting projects it implements, the challenges it faces, and the investments have been and will be made in Armenia.

About transformation, services and offers

The rebranding process, according to Hayk Faramazyan, began 18 months ago – long before it was announced – and it goes beyond changing the name, logo or corporate colors. The company is modernizing all components of its operations – from service halls to digital platforms – to provide a simple and convenient experience for existing and new subscribers. New services and offers are also being introduced, of course – and more will be added in the future.

OVIO, according to the company representative, introduced new internet and TV packages with unprecedented speeds, available to both existing and new subscribers without the need to sign an annual contract. The company also launched an online cinema and a modern TV platform Wink, offering subscribers access to high-quality multi-genre channels and up to 50,000 films and series. In addition, OVIO provides a unique cloud video surveillance service in Armenia, which includes secure data storage in a protected cloud domain and advanced video analysis capabilities.

“Rebranding is not a one-time operation. We will constantly work to improve the quality of services and service to satisfy even the most demanding client,” Faramazyan noted.

The transformation from Rostelecom Armenia to OVIO, according to the company's CEO, will allow the company to achieve even more, while remaining true to the company's core values, including high quality standards.

“We maintain our best values ​​and strive for more. Our activities are based on an honest, open way of working, care and an individual approach to each client, purposefulness, foresight and an innovative way of life,” he noted.

About investments in Armenia

Since entering the Armenian telecommunications market in 2009, OVIO (then, of course, under a different brand) has built over 3,000 km of trunk network, becoming a significant player and reducing wholesale internet prices tenfold, thereby contributing to a healthy competitive market in the country. To date, the company, as noted by Hayk Faramazyan, has invested over 37 billion drams in Armenia.

The rebranding process also involved significant investments and expansion efforts, including network expansion in the Mush district of Gyumri and parts of the Nor Nork administrative district of Yerevan. OVIO also recently launched the region’s largest data center, with investments expected to exceed AMD 11 billion by 2030.

About OVIO Data Center

The newly launched OVIO data center is considered the most powerful in the region – and the first major project under the new brand. Built to Tier III reliability standards, it offers scalable, secure and efficient cloud computing services, including infrastructure as a service (IaaS) with virtual servers, storage, networking and more.

As noted by Hayk Faramazyan, the data center provides uninterrupted access to data and 24/7 service, with more than 200 server cabinets providing secure data processing and storage solutions for enterprises and government agencies.

Strategically located in Abovyan, just 16 kilometers from Yerevan, the data center has convenient access for both local and international clients.

“Considering the strategic importance of this project for the country, the investment program for the data processing center built by the company was approved by the Government of the Republic of Armenia and included in the support program “Infrastructure for Investments” of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia,” the specialist noted.

About the Orbi robot

OVIO also recently introduced Orbi, a charismatic robot character that acts as a technical expert, wizard, and guardian of OVIO products, assisting customers in their daily lives and guiding them on their digital journey.

“Orbi embodies the company’s commitment to putting the customer at the center of its activities. It can become a reliable companion in our customers’ technological adventures. For now, Orbi is a digital character, but often such characters become “reality,” so it is possible that something similar will happen with Orbi — and it will gain a more “tangible” presence in the future,” Faramazyan noted.

About problems and their solutions

One of the main problems in the rebranding process is the temporary decrease in brand recognition: if Rostelecom Armenia has already gained quite a bit of fame over the years of its work in the country, then many have not yet heard of OVIO.

Aik Faramazyan also acknowledges the existence of such a problem, noting that rebranding can indeed affect some indicators and results of the company's activities, but in the short term. However, OVIO, according to him, is focusing on the positive aspects of the transformation, striving to become more innovative and more attractive to demanding customers in the telecommunications and digital services market.

Let us remind you that Silicon Mountains Shirak is held by UEICT with the support of the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia. The Platinum Partner of the forum is Unicomp, the Fintech Partner is EasyPay, the Tech Partner is Ucom, the Silver Partners are Synopsys and Ovio.  Regional and Youth Representation Partner is the Gyumri Technology Center implemented by the Enterprise Incubator Foundation, and the media partner is NEWS.am Tech.