“Part of the infrastructure developed under the high-speed next-generation Internet access project will be also used by the business for development of the telecommunication market. This infrastructure will be assigned to telecommunication operators by tender procedures. The selected operator will maintain the infrastructure and will rent it to the local Internet providers. Strict control will be exercised to prevent the operator from violating market rules”. That is what Mr Krassimir Simonski, Executive Director of Executive Agency for Electronic Communication Networks and Information Systems, said during the 11th Discussion Forum on Challenges for Telecommunication and Media Business that took place on 27 March 2014 in Sofia Hotel Balkan.
The number of companies potentially interested by this provision is very high (7045 according to government estimates).
The new infrastructure for next-generation Internet access will provide full technological interoperability of the optical network with the existing infrastructure, including that of broadband services providers. The provision of infrastructure in the country will greatly encourage local business to implement new business strategies and provide new services to users, thanks to the availability of next-generation Internet access, Mr Simonski added. He also explained that local Internet providers will connect to the open access network in the regional and Municipal network centres. Each one of them will have the necessary optical and copper interfaces, through which every provider will gain access to the infrastructure and to the users in remote settlements, respectively.
Background Information:
The project of the optical infrastructure for next-generation Internet access was launched by the Bulgarian Government in October 2012 (http://www.esmis.government.bg/en/text/page.php?c=85&d=381).
The number of public organisations to be connected with the next-generation Internet access includes 88 between national and municipal institutions, 46 schools, 18 hospitals and 38 community centres.
The settlements selected under the project have a total territory of 7 919 sq km (7 % of the territory of the country) and a population of 277 765 people, who represent 8 % of the population living outside the major towns and the capital, or 4 % of Bulgaria’s population. The total value of the project amounts to 20 million Euro.
The project is co-funded by the European Union, under the Operational Programme for Regional Development, Operation 2.2. 'Information and Communication Network'.
The project of building optical networks for fast Internet access is intended to support the creation of the infrastructure for more advanced eGovernment services as well as to support the development of broadband services in remote regions of the country.
The new optical infrastructure should improve the competitiveness of local economy, facilitating and stimulating businesses to provide new services to the end users, which in turn should result in a raise of the employment rate and of the standard of living of the population. The implementation of the project is also intended to ensure favourable and non-discriminatory conditions to Internet providers for the provision of services to the citizens and business based on the modern optical network. Finally, people living in scarcely populated and remote regions should gain access to on-line services, increasing their participation to the public and cultural life of the country.
Further information: