News

The optimization of radio spectrum charges is an important condition for more investment in the mobile communications sector. This was the opinion of the three big telecom operators - VIVACOM (Bulgarian Telecommunications Company), Telenor and A1 (Mobiltel), expressed at a meeting with the Minister of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications, Mr. Rosen Zhelyazkov, the Chairman of the Communications Regulation Commission Ivan Dimitrov and representatives of Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

Sixty-three Bulgarian municipalities have been approved for funding by the European Commission's second free WiFi competition under the WiFi4EU initiative. Thus, 176 local government centers (66% of the total) will create areas for free access to the global network. Fifteen other municipalities are on a reserve list, giving them the chance to be approved at a later stage.

The total amount of funding for the Bulgarian municipalities in the second competition is EUR 945 000.

Postal services that connect people with letters, telegrams, parcels are evolving, and are currently entering a new technological era - e-commerce, which for decades has passed from postal pigeons to postal drones. This was announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov at a post-philatelic issue validation ceremony dedicated to the 140th anniversary of Bulgarian Posts EAD.

The development of Varna-West as a container and ferry terminal infrastructure and of Varna-East as a zone for public access and cruise should be planned in good coordination, said the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov during a working visit to Varna.

The development of regional transport infrastructure is a priority for the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, but in order to achieve optimal integration in transport networks, we need to pay attention to projects within the Trans-European and Euro-Asian corridors that pass through our countries, said the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov at a Round Table on Transport Connectivity in the Black Sea region. The event is organized in Evksinograd as part of the Bulgarian presidency of the organization.

"The proposals of the participants in the Sofia Airport concession procedure show a very serious attitude towards the development of the airport and its transformation into a decent aviation hub in Europe and outside Europe". This was announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rosen Zhelyazkov during today's opening of the tenders of the participants in the open Sofia Airport concession procedure.

Rossen Jeliazkov pointed out that there are no candidates removed and the proposals made by the five participants will be carefully considered.

A person has been detected in Haskovo trying to pass a theoretical exam for drivers on behalf of another candidate. During the inspection of the documents for identification the supervising inspector has doubted that the person who has appeared differs from the candidate enrolled in the list. This was confirmed also by the system for facial identification in the examination room. The inspector from EA “Road Transport Administration” instantly informed the structures of the Ministry of Interior.

I expect Poduyane railway station to be a part of Bulgaria's cultural and historical heritage after its renovation, said the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Rossen Jeliazkov, during the official start of the reconstruction of Poduyane railway station. He recalled that the railway station in Poduyane was one of the first built in Sofia in 1930 and so far, reconstructions have not been made. "The project aims not only to keep the authentic look of the station but also to emphasize it.

Sofia Airport Concession offers will be opened on 9 May in a public hearing at 9:00. This was announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov before the competent parliamentary committee. Participants or their representatives, as well as other persons, may attend the meeting. Under the law, the admitted participants will be announced first. Then, again, in the order of their submission, the participants' bids will be opened. The Commission will read the binding proposals of all admitted participants.

Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov held a working meeting with the Executive Director of the National Tourism Board Polina Karastoyanova and Deputy Chairperson of Management Board of the National Tourism Board Association, Martin Zahariev. Concrete proposals for cooperation were discussed during the talks.

The Bulgarian and Iranian aviation authorities will negotiate an amendment to the current air transport agreement and the future direct line between the two countries. This is one of the results of the Intergovernmental Bulgarian-Iranian Commission on Economic, Scientific, Trade and Technical Cooperation, held on 18 and 19 April in Sofia, the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov announced during the closing session. He pointed out that a meeting of the Joint Committee on International Road Transport was held within the session.

Iran's 80 million-dollar market and the key geographic location of Bulgaria are a starting point for boosting commodity turnover in the interests of the countries, peoples and businesses, stated the Minister of Transport, Information Technologies Rossen Jeliazkov during the Bulgarian-Iranian Business Forum, which was held today. More than 60 Bulgarian and 40 Iranian companies took part in the event.

The business forum that will take place today is indicative of the interest of the Bulgarian and Iranian companies. We are ready to support every specific business initiative in order to help companies from both countries better understand the potential for growth in our mutual trade. This was announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov at the opening of the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Bulgarian-Iranian Commission for Economic, Industrial, Trade and Technical Cooperation.

Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov held a meeting today with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Bulgaria Dr. Hasan Ulusoy. The meeting was carried out upon the invitation of Minister Jeliazkov and is related to the situation of the delayed crossing of light and heavy vehicles via the Turkish-Bulgarian border.

Bulgaria is interested t in building a third bridge over the Danube and will insist on its implementation. This was announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Rossen Jeliazkov, within the framework of parliamentary hearings.

Today, April 11, 2019, applications for participation in the procedure for designation of a concessionaire and award of concession for the construction of Civil Public Airport Sofia - public state property were opened. According to Art. 96, para. 1 of the Concessions Act, the commission for opening of the procedure opened the applications received in due time in a closed session.

During the deadline for submission of applications and offers, applications from the following participants were received:

Bulgaria is ready to host the Regional Cyber Security Forum for Europe in 2020. Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov stated this during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Houlin Zhao. This will be the fourth edition of the forum holding in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria is one of the countries with the highest participation of women in the ICT sector, about 34% of all IT specialists. The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov announced this during a meeting today with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union. She is the first woman in the history of the organization, in a senior management post. The talks are part of Minister Jeliazkov’s program during the World Summit on Information Society.

The development of ferry connections between Bulgaria and Georgia was the main topic of the Sixth Meeting of the Bulgarian-Georgian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. The talks were held yesterday and today in Sofia under the chairmanship of the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov and  the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia George Kobulia.

Today, by a majority of approximately 2/3, the European Parliament adopted at first reading proposals on the so-called Mobility Package I.

Despite the alleged procedural violations by the representatives of the group of the same-minded states and the active behavior of the Bulgarian side, the European Parliament voted in full restrictive texts. This again proves that the goal is to redistribute market shares, not to improve the social working conditions.