General Information

March 22, 2002

Updated information about providers - now 23 ISP companies in the list.

January 7, 2001

This is completely new layout of my site, English version, with the information about Internet Service Providers (ISP) and Public Access Points (PAP) to Internet and E-mail. Your questions, comments, suggestions are welcomed!

You need an Internet connection while being in Belarus? You need to be in touch with your office, home, friends? Here you can find some possibilities of connection!

If you have your PC with you, you have the following alternatives:

1) To sign a contract with an Internet Service Provider;

2) To buy a special card - the Internet card;

3) To use a special phone number.

If you do not have PC, you can visit the Public Access Points (in Minsk or in regions) - the Internet cafe, post offices and other places, where Internet is available. Each option has its positive and negative sides, which I will try to describe below.

A Contract with ISP

I would recommend signing a contract with ISP, if you need to stay in Belarus for a long time or come and stay frequently. Usually, signing a contract with the ISP needs some extra money for registration (registration fee is a kind of insurance for ISP, that you will use its services and will always pay for) and pay monthly fee (about $2 or more). Which ISP to choose, it depends on: location (from which you make connection as quality of connection depends on the district's phone system), prices, your demands. The Services of the state ISP, "Beltelecom", are available almost in every big town. The commercial providers have not enough resources to do the same, but they are trying to extend their services to the regions. Here you can find brief information about ISP in Minsk and Belarus.

The Internet Cards

The two ISPs - "Solo" and "Business Network" are selling special cards with information needed for connection: login, password, DNS and so on. Usually they are valid only for 3-5 hours. I recommend to use them if you stay in Belarus for some days or in order to test ISP performance while making decision to sign a contract, because Belarusian ISP have no "test" option in their services. It is possible to order the card delivery by phone (The ISP "Solo" 234-8164) or to buy the card at newspaper stands (kiosks) or post offices in Minsk (The ISP "Business Network").

A Special phone number

This service is called "Password-free Internet" and is provided by the state telecommunication company "Beltelecom" which is the primary ISP in Belarus. It is available all over the country. You don't need to sign any documents or make prepayment to use it. The bill for connection time will be added to the telephone bill. In this case, the connection speed is relatively high and the price is reasonable.

How to use:

Modem phone number: 8<dialtone> 600100.
Support service phone number in Minsk: 206-48-88.

Here is the list of Minsk phone stations, which allow "Password free Internet" usage (the phone numbers, by which you can connect, must begin with the following figures): 210, 211, 217, 213-216, 219, 221, 222, 226, 228, 230, 234, 238, 244, 250, 257, 258, 260-263, 270-272, 274, 275, 277, 278, 283-286, 289 More information you can find here (only in Russian).

From January 1, 2001 available number for connection from Minsk: 209-2662. Support service phone number in Minsk: 284-4585.

This number can be used from mentioned above stations as well as from stations: 224, 227, 229, 231, 240, 241, 247, 248, 249, 251, 259, 252, 253, 255, 279.

Number 8W600100 allows 420 simultaneous connections.
Number 209-2662 allows 120 simultaneous connections.

But as this service is quite populars, sometimes it is very difficult to make connection to it.

General notes

1) The Belarusian phone plug differs from the one, being used in Europe or USA. You need to have a special adapter - see picture.

2) Use PULSE dialing. There are no TONE dialing in the country at all (only in some offices, where local PBX used).

3) As far as I am aware, only the "UNIBEL" ISP has information in English on the site. All the other ISPs are oriented only for local market. But anyway, if you need information or want to sign a contract doesn't hesitate to send ISP e-mail or fax - somebody in the office will be able to help you.

4) The only way to have high-speed connection is to use your own satellite system. But even in this case you need to have usual channel for outgoing information. Here are the names and phones of Minsk companies, who offer both equipment and services:

Average price for equipment - $290-350