HPT, ERICSSON SIGN DEAL ON TELEPHONE EXCHANGES IN DANUBE AREA

VUKOVAR, July 17 (Hina) - Croatian Post and Telecommunications (HPT) and the "Ericsson Nikola Tesla" company on Thursday signed an agreement worth 58 million kuna (approximately US$ 9 million) on introducing 82,000 new telephone connections in the Croatian Danube area in next eight months. The implementation of this agreement, signed in Vukovar, will help raise telephony in this part of Croatia to the level of telephony in the country. The first vice-president of "Ericsson Nikola Tesla", Rajko Pfaf said that 101 digital exchanges would be set up, and the two biggest intended for Vukovar and Beli Manastir, worth 16 million kuna (2.55 dlrs), would be donated by the company. Other 99 exchanges to be set up in the Danube area would be an investment of HPT. The deal was signed by Pfaf on behalf of "Ericsson Nikola Tesla" and HPT deputy director Mladen Sutalo. (hina) mš 172214 MET jul 97