Telecommunications>News

The Coalition for Free Access to Information asked the National Telecommunications Agency (RATEL) to review the contents of the Regulation that defines the new activities for internet service providers (ISPs) in Serbia who will be now obligated to keep the data on the traffic of their users and present it to the competent authorities.

The Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia, the Criminal Law and Criminology Association and the Helsinki Committee of Human Rights expressed their concerns over the newly adopted changes in the Law on Criminal Investigation Procedures and the Law on Communications Surveillance (all forms of wire-tapping and interception) without the proper public debate that could lead to a sensible balance of the fight against organized crime and the right to privacy.

Internet service providers in Serbia announce they will challenge in the Supreme Court the decision of the National Telecommunications Agency (Ratel) that providers are obligated to allow unrestricted access to their e-mail clients` databases to the Police and the Security and Intelligence Agency (BIA).

RATEL (National Telecommunications Agency of Serbia) adopted on July 11 new By-Law that enables intrusion in human rights and freedoms and requires from internet service providers to own equipment for passive oversight and monitoring of electronic mail with possibility to reroute it to the proper competent authorities.

MobileActive08 is the only global gathering that is connecting leaders who are working at the convergence of civil society, mobile technology and social change. Convened by SANGONeT and MobileActive.org, MobileActive08 will take place from 13-15 October 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The 3rd Southeastern Europe Broadband Conference and Expo that gathered world leading vendors, regional operators, service providers, regulatory agencies, channel partners, and the corporate customer sector in the extensive coverage of Southeastern Europe\'s telecommunications industry transition in the internet era, concludes its work today in Belgrade.

The International Conference `ICT Infrastructure and Industry in Accelerated Economic Development` will be held May 14-16 in Tuzla, with over 300 participants from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Moldova, Austria, Slovenia Romania and B&H.

The DataVoyage company from Užice, Serbia, annoucnes that is secured, in cooperation with FreeDNS, free-of-charge registration on the iz.rs domain, as a form of protest against the manner of organization of national domain and the unrealistically high registration fees.

The Internet Makedonija NGO demands from the Government of Macedonia to terminate the “Free Internet” programme and to secure, instead of the points for free internet access in the libraries in several towns, WiFi access points in public institutions with great frequency of citizens, especially student dormitories and university campuses.

The Inclusive eGovernance Conference, part of the Western Balkans Network for Inclusive eGovernance project, started today in Skopje.

The second Internet Governance Forum (IGF) concluded on November 15 and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) after the initial assessment of the event made suggestions for moving towards the third forum in New Delhi in 2008.

On behalf of Kosovo, UNMIK signed the eSEE Agenda Plus which determines the direction of the development of Information Technologies in South-Eastern Europe and the implementation of EU Regulations in electronic communications. Furthermore an inter-ministerial agreement was signed on a coordinated development of information technology in South-Eastern Europe.

BlueLink Bulgaria, a virtual network that offers internet services and member of Association for Progressive Communications has launched its FreeNet – Hands Off the Bloggers Campaign, to protest the recent attacks on freedom of speech in Bulgaria and prosecution of a blogger for his views on plans to construct hotel in a protected natural area. To learn more about the campaign and provide your support, visit the link freenet.bluelink.net.

According to the latest survey, conducted by Strategic Marketing and Media Resarch SMMRI, the number of users of internet in Macedonia has risen by 5% in 2006, to reach the level of internet penetration of 74 percent. The survey, Internet and Computer Use in Macedonia was organized by USAID’s Macedonia Connects Project.

On May 7, the Metamorphosis Foundation organized a debate on the “Guidelines for Improving information Security in Macedonia”, at the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce. The debate was intended for Macedonian Experts in information security and other interested parties.

The Metamorphosis Foundation joined the Association of Progressive Communications (APC) as a full member. In partnership with APC, Metamorphosis will conduct activities related to exchange of knowledge and experience, overcoming the digital gap, inclusion and human rights.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), in cooperation with the private and civil sector and the other relevant state administration bodies and institutions, prepared the Draft- National Strategy for Development of Electronic Communications with Information Technology.

The Metamorphosis Foundation announces the opening of the open competition for establishment of digital clubhouses (E-points) with six computers each.

On February 6, 2007, the Safer internet day 2007 event was organized in 31 countries around the world. The event was organised by European Schoolnet, coordinator of Insafe, the European safer internet network. Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for the Information Society and Media was once again patron of Safer Internet Day, as in the past two years.

Mobilkom Austria became third mobile operator in Macedonia after being selected by the Commission within the Agency for Electronic Communications on February 4, 2007. Mobilkom Austria met all criteria required by the tender documentation.