Russia’s Rostelecom appointed sole universal service operator

MOSCOW, Mar 28 (PRIME) -- The Russian government has appointed major wireline operator Rostelecom as sole provider of universal communications services in small towns and villages, according to a ruling released Friday on the government official Web site.

The government’s ruling comes into effect on April 1.

In late January, the State Duma and Federation Council, which are the parliament’s lower and upper houses respectively, approved a bill developed by the communications ministry, under which the government will sign a 150 billion ruble 10-year contract with an operator providing universal services, which will be obliged to build fiber optic lines in residential settlements with the population of 250–500 people.

In early February, the bill was signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.

The bill states that the sole universal operator must have a developed infrastructure with connections points across the country and take a dominant position in most regions.

Rostelecom is the only company meeting these criteria.

(35.5810 rubles – U.S. $1)

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