academic institutions. In 2008, the speed of Beltelecom’s internal Internet channel
was significantly increased to 5.2 Gbps, with prospects to increase to 8 Gbps in 2010
(from a mere 1.5 Gbps in 2006). In comparison, BasNet’s speed is 12 Mbps. Beltelecom
routes its traffic predominantly through Russian operators (70 percent) to connect to
the Internet. 14
Second-tier ISPs have the right to build their own infrastructure, except for the construction of external liaison channels. Providers are also required to use Beltelecom
channels to connect users (so-called last mile).
Despite the state-proclaimed ‘‘liberalization’’ of the Belarusian mobile market, the
government continues to own a significant stake in four operators. 15 The main ISPs
in the country apart from the state operator are Aichyna, Belinfonet, BN, and Solo.
Because VoIP services are considered international services over which Beltelecom has
exclusive rights, the state operator is the only operator licensed to provide commercial
VoIP services in Belarus. The high prices maintained by the monopoly encourage the
emergence of illegal VoIP providers, which are criminally prosecuted. Under decree of
the Ministry of Communications and Informatization, IP telephony is permitted only
for noncommercial purposes. 16 Regulation of P2P connections is currently not a priority for the government.
Beltelecom controls the main IXP and charges other ISPs for using it. 17 Nonetheless,
a large number of second-tier ISPs are using the IXP because it significantly cuts down
traffic costs. Interconnection tariffs between telecommunications operators are still not
regulated.
There are more than 22,300 Belarusian Web sites, of which around 13,500 domain
names were registered with the country-code top-level domain name ‘‘.by’’ by mid2008.
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
Extensive governmental regulation, a strict licensing regime, and Beltelecom’s monopoly are major impediments to the development of competitive Internet services
in Belarus. Beltelecom is under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Informatization. This arrangement could change as a result of the WTO’s
accession requirements, which demand that Beltelecom be privatized and end its monopoly on external communication channels. The ministry declared that Beltelecom’s
control over external communication channels would remain after privatization, with
licenses given only to those operators that have built their own external communication infrastructure. Belarusian legislation has established a license-based regime for
the following types of telecommunications activities: fixed local/national telephony,
mobile telephony, radio trunk transmission, and data transmission. 18
164
Belarus
was significantly increased to 5.2 Gbps, with prospects to increase to 8 Gbps in 2010
(from a mere 1.5 Gbps in 2006). In comparison, BasNet’s speed is 12 Mbps. Beltelecom
routes its traffic predominantly through Russian operators (70 percent) to connect to
the Internet. 14
Second-tier ISPs have the right to build their own infrastructure, except for the construction of external liaison channels. Providers are also required to use Beltelecom
channels to connect users (so-called last mile).
Despite the state-proclaimed ‘‘liberalization’’ of the Belarusian mobile market, the
government continues to own a significant stake in four operators. 15 The main ISPs
in the country apart from the state operator are Aichyna, Belinfonet, BN, and Solo.
Because VoIP services are considered international services over which Beltelecom has
exclusive rights, the state operator is the only operator licensed to provide commercial
VoIP services in Belarus. The high prices maintained by the monopoly encourage the
emergence of illegal VoIP providers, which are criminally prosecuted. Under decree of
the Ministry of Communications and Informatization, IP telephony is permitted only
for noncommercial purposes. 16 Regulation of P2P connections is currently not a priority for the government.
Beltelecom controls the main IXP and charges other ISPs for using it. 17 Nonetheless,
a large number of second-tier ISPs are using the IXP because it significantly cuts down
traffic costs. Interconnection tariffs between telecommunications operators are still not
regulated.
There are more than 22,300 Belarusian Web sites, of which around 13,500 domain
names were registered with the country-code top-level domain name ‘‘.by’’ by mid2008.
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
Extensive governmental regulation, a strict licensing regime, and Beltelecom’s monopoly are major impediments to the development of competitive Internet services
in Belarus. Beltelecom is under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Informatization. This arrangement could change as a result of the WTO’s
accession requirements, which demand that Beltelecom be privatized and end its monopoly on external communication channels. The ministry declared that Beltelecom’s
control over external communication channels would remain after privatization, with
licenses given only to those operators that have built their own external communication infrastructure. Belarusian legislation has established a license-based regime for
the following types of telecommunications activities: fixed local/national telephony,
mobile telephony, radio trunk transmission, and data transmission. 18
164
Belarus