In a move expected to improve telephone access to Moscow State University, or MSU, and nearby businesses, long-distance carrier Combellga -- to cut costs and increase its potential customer base -- has opened a new 2,000-channel international telephone exchange at the university.


The new switch is Combellga's second in Moscow, bringing the firm's total international call capacity to 12,000 channels.Combellga is one of a handful of foreign companies in Moscow which provide satellite connections to the outside world.


Yan Raitsis, the company's technical director, said an important advantage of placing the new switch at MSU is the university's location in Vorobiovy Hills, one of the highest points in Moscow.


To maneuver around the local telephone system, Combellga connects its customers direct to its digital overlay network. Instead of using expensive surface connections, Raitsis said, Combellga will now be able to link customers by microwave through the MSU relay, which will reduce expenses.


Alexander Kozhanov, Combellga's general director, said the company anticipates profits from incoming traffic generated by interest in MSU's mammoth academic databases.


As part of the arrangement, Combellga is donating the university free access to an unspecified number of new international channels.


MSU rector Victor Sadovnichy said the new capacity would also allow the university to organize high speed data exchange between computers within the university.


The system is linked with the outside world via two radio relay and two fiber-optic links. It is connected by microwave to the international switch operated by Rostelekom -- from which Combellga has leased international channels -- and a telephone exchange in Moscow region's Krasnogorsk, which allows the joint venture to provide access to the local Moscow telephone network.


The two fiber optic links connect the MSU system with Combellga's international exchange in the Russian Foreign Ministry and the company's satellite teleport, which has access to Intelsat and Eutelsat satellites.


Kozhanov said the company could easily increase channel capacity if needed.