Business news

Internet regulation decree to liberalize Belarusian communication market

MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian High-Tech Park expects that the national communication market will be liberalized after the decree on Internet regulation comes into force, HTP Administration Director Valery Tsepkalo told the press on 16 February.

“We are interested in liberalization of the Internet services and international telephony market and expect it to happen after the Internet regulation decree comes into force,” he said.

In his words, the HTP Administration had inquired whether HTP resident companies would be able to connect directly to foreign Internet network operators. “We expressed an interest in setting up an independent ISP to connect to foreign networks but we are also working on other options to give our resident companies an independent Internet access,” remarked Valery Tsepkalo.

The Belarus President signed Decree No 60 “Measures to improve the use of the national segment of the Internet” on 1 February. The document is supposed to protect IT interests of individuals, the general public and the state, to improve the quality of and reduce the cost of Internet services, to ensure further development of the national part of the World Wide Web. The decree will come into force on 1 July 2010.