10 September 2003

U.S. to Fund Mobile Telecommunications Study in Russia, September 10, 2003

(USTDA signs $325,000 grant agreement with ZAO MS-Spetstelecom)

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on September 10 signed a $325,000 grant agreement with ZAO MS-Spetstelecom, a Russian company, to study the feasibility of building a specialized mobile radio telecommunications system that will serve as the backbone of a secure voice and data transmission service for government and municipal public safety workers.

Following is the USTDA press release:
(begin text)

U.S. Trade and Development Agency
www.tda.gov

For Immediate Release

USTDA FUNDS STUDY ON MULTI-REGIONAL WIRELESS DIGITAL TRUNKING COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN RUSSIA

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - (September 10, 2003) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $325,000 grant yesterday to ZAO MS-Spetstelecom, a private Russian company, for a feasibility study on the development and operation of an enhanced specialized mobile radio telecommunications system based on the Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) standard in the Volga Federal District. The grant was conferred at a signing ceremony at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. The Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Mr. John Beyrle, signed the agreement on behalf of the U.S. Government. The General Director of ZAO MS-Spetstelecom, Mr. Vladimir Ivinov, signed on behalf of the Grantee.

The USTDA-funded study will examine the feasibility of implementing a complete communications network based on the terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) standard. If implemented, the system will create a secure voice and data transmission service for government and municipal public safety workers. The system may also have commercial applications. Broad Street Capital Group, a New York-based boutique merchant bank, will conduct the study funded by the USTDA grant.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

(end text)