Poland Twinning Project extended

Oftel's work in Poland will now run until the end of June after the European Commission approved a four-month extension of Oftel'sTwinning Project there

Oftel is running the project, which encompasses postal regulation as well as telecoms and radiocommunications regulation, with the support of the UK Radiocommunications Agency and, on postal issues, PTS, the Swedish Regulator.

The main purpose of the extension is to enable the Project Team to continue to advise Polish colleagues as the former telecom regulator, URT, is replaced by the new combined telecoms and postal regulatory authority URTiP, established on 2 April 2002.

With URTiP Poland has, for the first time, an independent postal regulator: a major and essential reform in Poland's preparation for entry to the European Union in 2004.

With URTiP's foundation. a number of senior managers have recently joined the new combined regulator. The Project has a particular role in introducing them to key concepts and principles of telecoms, radio and postal regulation, alongside existing URTiP colleagues.

For further information contact Paul Lonsdale (tel: 020 7634 8866 / e-mail paul.lonsdale@oftel.gov.uk).