Nikolia Popov, head of the Licensing Department of the Russian Ministry of Communications says that he intends to make the application process for licences for leased lines rented from the Ministry more difficult, with the aim of reducing the number of licences held by foreign companies, which then provide international telecommunication services in and out of Russia. He says that many are not adding any value to the lines and are simply re-selling them, and that it would be better if more end-users dealt directly with the Ministry. He says the main interest has been in lines to the north eastern regions of Russian and Primoria.
