must connect to the Internet through channels of
the state-owned ISP Beltelecom, thus facilitating
government’s control over all traffic. The president has established a strong and elaborate
information security policy, and has declared his
intention of exercising strict control over the
Internet under the pretext of national security.
Based on periodic testing, ONI suspects sporadic but sophisticated blocking of Internet content related to political events in the country.
NOTES
1. See OpenNet Initiative, ONI Internet Watch 001, The
Internet and Elections: The 2006 Presidential
Elections in Belarus (and Its Implications), April
2006, http://www.opennet.net/belarus/.
2. See Weekly Digest of Belarusian News, “Embassy of
the Republic of Belarus in the USA,”
http://www.belarusembassy.org/news/digests/
092505.htm.
3. Paul Budde Communications Pty Ltd., 2006: Belarus
– Telecoms Market Overview & Statistics, April 2,
2006.
4. According to the statement of Ivan Rak, Deputy
Minister of Communications and Informatization,
more than fifty providers in 2005 had licenses for
providing Internet access services. See “Belarus
coordinated with WTO questions regarding
liberalization of the telecommunications market,”
April 7, 2005, ByBanner.com, http://www.bybanner.
com/article/779.html (accessed April 29, 2007) (in
Russian).
5. The only exception is the network of the National
Academy of Sciences of Belarus (BasNet), which
has its own satellite channel.
6. See Paul Budde Communications Pty, Ltd., 2006:
Belarus – Telecoms Market Overview & Statistics,
April 2, 2006 at 10.
7. ByBanner.com, “The Ministry of Communications
and Informatization allows Skype,” March 3, 2006,
http://www.bybanner.com/article/1747.html
(accessed April 29, 2007) (in Russian).
8. Two legislative acts are significant in this respect:
The Law on Operational and Investigative Activity of
July 9, 1999, http://pravo.by/webnpa/text_txt.asp?
RN=H19900289 (accessed May 2, 2007) and The
Law on the Authorities of State Security of the
Republic of Belarus of December 3, 1997,
http://www.kgb.by/legaltexts/act01/ (accessed May
2, 2007) (both in Russian).
262
Country Summaries
the state-owned ISP Beltelecom, thus facilitating
government’s control over all traffic. The president has established a strong and elaborate
information security policy, and has declared his
intention of exercising strict control over the
Internet under the pretext of national security.
Based on periodic testing, ONI suspects sporadic but sophisticated blocking of Internet content related to political events in the country.
NOTES
1. See OpenNet Initiative, ONI Internet Watch 001, The
Internet and Elections: The 2006 Presidential
Elections in Belarus (and Its Implications), April
2006, http://www.opennet.net/belarus/.
2. See Weekly Digest of Belarusian News, “Embassy of
the Republic of Belarus in the USA,”
http://www.belarusembassy.org/news/digests/
092505.htm.
3. Paul Budde Communications Pty Ltd., 2006: Belarus
– Telecoms Market Overview & Statistics, April 2,
2006.
4. According to the statement of Ivan Rak, Deputy
Minister of Communications and Informatization,
more than fifty providers in 2005 had licenses for
providing Internet access services. See “Belarus
coordinated with WTO questions regarding
liberalization of the telecommunications market,”
April 7, 2005, ByBanner.com, http://www.bybanner.
com/article/779.html (accessed April 29, 2007) (in
Russian).
5. The only exception is the network of the National
Academy of Sciences of Belarus (BasNet), which
has its own satellite channel.
6. See Paul Budde Communications Pty, Ltd., 2006:
Belarus – Telecoms Market Overview & Statistics,
April 2, 2006 at 10.
7. ByBanner.com, “The Ministry of Communications
and Informatization allows Skype,” March 3, 2006,
http://www.bybanner.com/article/1747.html
(accessed April 29, 2007) (in Russian).
8. Two legislative acts are significant in this respect:
The Law on Operational and Investigative Activity of
July 9, 1999, http://pravo.by/webnpa/text_txt.asp?
RN=H19900289 (accessed May 2, 2007) and The
Law on the Authorities of State Security of the
Republic of Belarus of December 3, 1997,
http://www.kgb.by/legaltexts/act01/ (accessed May
2, 2007) (both in Russian).
262
Country Summaries