Antonyuk: Russia Gets 50 Bln Rbl Annually in GSM Frequency Fees

MOSCOW, Feb 8 (Prime-Tass) -- The Russian government receives 50 billion rubles annually from GSM mobile operators in payments for frequency usage, Deputy IT and Telecommunications Minister Boris Antonyuk told a news conference Wednesday.

Antonyuk said that the government may convert 25% of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum for civil needs from military services, which may increase the government's annual revenue from frequency usage by 7 billion to 8 billion rubles.

Antonyuk also said that according to amendments to the law on communications, military services that use radio frequencies would have to pay for the usage.

The ministry has already developed a methodology of these payments, Antonyuk said, adding that military services would pay less than civil entities. (28.2524 rubles - U.S. $1)

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Posted to the site on 8th February 2006