Telecommunications Ministry to license 3G mobile networks

The Russian Telecommunications Ministry will start issuing licenses for mobile services of the third generation in 2003, Telecommunications Minister Leonid Reiman reported at a press conference in St. Petersburg today. According to him, as of today the telecommunications system of the new generation has been tested successfully in Russia. He stated that the 3G license would be granted "at least for federal districts".

The Minister also pointed out that the law on digital signatures had been adopted in 2002; however, its full-scale enforcement "has been delayed a little". As Reiman reported to journalists, among other things, this delay is linked to the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to reorganize the Federal Agency for Government Communications and Information (FAPSI). However, the Minister noted that the law on digital signatures "has already been working" in the Russian Tax Ministry.