The
communication
sector
in
Bulgaria
has
developed
rapidly
in
the
recent
years.
The
number
of
the
mobile
network
subscribers
has
exceeded
1.5
million
(two
GSM
operators
and
one
NMT450).
In
2000,
126
operators
of
VHF-FM
radio
stations
were
licensed,
and
in
2001
-
another
100
ones
as
part
of
the
radio
broadcasting
networks.
After
2002
the
introduction
of
digital
radio
broadcasting
in
different
radio
frequency
bands
will
be
initiated,
in
compliance
with
the
adopted
international
standards.
Following
the
licensing
of
the
first
national
private
television
network
(bTV),
a
significant
number
of
regional
operators
will
be
licensed.
The
release
of
further
frequency
bands
in
2002
will
allow
revising
the
frequency
allocation
of
television
networks
that
will
result
in
increasing
the
number
of
licensed
regional
private
operators.
The
digital
terrestrial
television
broadcasting
will
be
initiated
and
a
transmitter
of 6
programs
will
start
operating
in
Sofia.
In
the
area
of
the
mobile
telecommunications,
a
time-schedule
of
frequency
bands
for
the
Universal
Mobile
Telecommunication
System
(UMTS)
is
currently
drafted.
The
key
priority,
frequency
blocks
of a
minimum
of 2
x 10
MHz
in
the
frequency
bands
1920-1980
MHz
and
2110-2170
MHz,
should
be
available
by
mid-2003.
The
issues
of
licensing
methods
(tender
or
contest)
and
the
number
of
3G
operators
(two
or
three)
will
be
cleared
afterwards
and
the
licenses
will
be
awarded
by
the
middle
of
2004.
In
2001
PC
connected
Internet
users
reached
about
450,000
and
their
number
is
estimated
at
around
600,000
at
the
end
of
2002.
The
E-commerce
is
expected
to
develop
by
encouraging
the
self-regulation
and
practical
implementation
of
the
electronic
signature.
The
opportunity
to
make
business
transactions
on
the
Internet
is
already
available
through
the
ePay.bg
electronic
environment
and
its
use
increases
at
stable
rates.
Nearly
1,100
companies
are
operating
in
the
sphere
of
high
technologies
in
Bulgaria.
More
than
half
of
them
are
small
size
companies.
To
attract
foreign
investments
to
high-tech
manufactures
in
Bulgaria,
the
establishment
of
high-tech
parks
(incubators)
is
now
being
planned.
Favorable
factors
for
the
development
of
this
sector
include
the
existence
of
considerable
scientific
potential,
R&D
institutes
and
production
facilities,
as
well
as
the
excellent
education
system.
The
advanced
level
of
education
ensured
by
the
science
and
technology
faculties
in
the
Bulgarian
universities
has
created
scientists
with
leading
position
worldwide
who
work
successfully
for
the
development
of
science-based
technologies
in
communications
and
high
technologies.
The
government,
through
the
ICT
Development
Agency,
is
committed
to
stimulate
and
actively
establish
Bulgaria
as a
leading
European
ICT
Research
and
Development
centre.
