Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia launched a partnership to link national telecommunications networks in the border regions of the three countries. The official meeting setting up the managing and technical board for the preparation of the tripartite project was held today in Vidin. Delegations led by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Valery Borissov, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Information Society of Romania Mr. Viorel Ionica and the Assistant Minister in charge of electronic communications and postal services to the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Telecommunications of the Republic of Serbia, Ms. Irini Reljin participated in the talks. The event was hosted by the Governor of Vidin Momchil Stankov.

"Two years ago, as part of the first mandate of the team of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, I presented for the first time the idea of ​​connecting the optical telecommunications networks in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia", said Deputy Minister Valeri Borissov at the meeting. In his words, today it is no longer just an idea, but a preparation of a joint project which will be presented to the European Commission. The Deputy Minister stressed that today's meeting is a continuation of the dialogue between the prime ministers of the three countries - already known as the "Craiova Troika", when the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov proposed the creation of a regional infrastructure ring.

The main objective of the proposal to connect the networks is to enable public bodies and institutions in the three countries to use high-speed and protected telecommunication channels to exchange information. Investing in broadband Internet to border areas would enable research, educational and public organizations in the three countries to develop joint projects. One of the main benefits of the interconnection of networks is the provision of spare lines in case of problems with communications in either party. The total project will promote the development of cross-border projects of e-governance, education, health and e-services.

After the talks, the participants visited a section of the broadband network that is under construction. The construction is provided under a project funded by the Operational Program "Regional Development" and the beneficiary is Executive Agency "Electronic communication networks and information systems". The value of the project is 39 123 029 Levs. It covers 29 municipal centers and 24 smaller settlements. The total length of the lines is about 870 km. In the region of Vidin fiber optic cable infrastructure is being built to the municipalities of Makresh, Kular and Chuprene, at the total length of 106 km. Schools, community centers, hospitals and municipal administrations in Dimovo and Belogradchik will be connected to the open access network.