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Managing the Russian Airwaves - First Success for World Leading Partnership |
RA press release- 16 November 1998
The Russian radio spectrum will be brought into the 21st Century thanks to the first commercial success of a ground breaking partnership between Government and private enterprise.
DTI Minister, Barbara Roche, congratulated Radio Spectrum International Consulting Ltd (RSI) today, who through working with Interconnect Communications Ltd (ICC), has secured its first international consultancy contract to modernise the management of theradio spectrum in the Russian Federation.
RSI was formed in June 1998 between the Radiocommunications Agency and CMG plc. Its aim is to provide advanced IT systems to help the Radiocommunications Agency better manage the UK radio spectrum, and to sell international consultancy services abroad on a commercial basis.
Speaking at the formal launch of RSI, Mrs Roche emphasised the importance of the joint venture in ensuring that UK companies exploit their competitive edge. She said:
"I am pleased to announce that, despite having only come into existence in June, Radio Spectrum International has already demonstrated its potential by winning its first consultancy contract to modernise spectrum management and monitoring for the Russian Federation.
"This joint venture is an excellent example of public and private sectors working in partnership to share experience and know-how to achieve success.
"Through the provision of spectrum management systems, it will make an important contribution to building the knowledge driven economy and enhancing competitiveness.
"Radio Spectrum International is showing that it is good for the economy, good for enterprise, good for consumers and good for the taxpayer. I wish it every success."
RSI will provide technical expertise and access to the Radiocommunication Agency's experience of successful radio spectrum management and monitoring to central radio operations in Moscow and a regional centre in St. Petersbourg. The Russian project aims to:
improve the efficiency of radio spectrum management and monitoring in Russia
Richard Wright, Chief Executive of RSI said:
"Winning this contract is a concrete example of how RSI will operate. RSI was established to deliver IT services to the Radiocommunications Agency, and to market their expertise on an international basis.
"Our first contract will demonstrate how successfully the Joint Venture Company's amalgamated expertise can be applied".
Notes for Editors
1. The formal launch of RSI and the announcement of the first contract was held at Hercules House, Hercules Road, London SE1 7DU.
2. This is the first time that Government and private sector have together set up a joint venture company to improve UK operations and to sell knowledge overseas.
RSI collaborated with InterConnect Communications Ltd to provide support to the General State Supervisory Department for Communications in the Russian Federation. The work is funded by the European Union under the "Technical Assistance to the Newly Independent States and Mongolia" (Tacis) programme. The initial contract is expected to be worth between £100,000 and £200,000 to RSI. The overall Tacis contract for spectrum management activities in the Russian Federation is 3,500,000 ECU.
3. The radio spectrum is used by a range of businesses throughout the economy and for non-business purposes. Spectrum-based industries were estimated in 1995-1996 to contribute over £13bn a year to GDP, increasing at a rate of 11 per cent real increase a year; generate £12-15bn a year of efficiency gains and consumer benefits; and support over 400,000 jobs.
4. It was announced on 9 June 1998 that the Radiocommunications Agency had entered into a partnership with CMG plc, a leading European IT services company providing business information solutions through consultancy systems and services to clients worldwide. Established in 1964, CMG plc now operates in more than 40 countries from its bases in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium.
5. The partnership, Radio Spectrum International Consulting Ltd, provides information systems to the Radiocommunications Agency. Together with two leading consultancies, The Smith Group Ltd and National Economic Research Associates (NERA), it also provides international spectrum management consultancy services to other administrations.
6. The Radiocommunications Agency is an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. It is responsible for managing most on-military radio spectrum in the UK and takes the lead for the UK in international discussions on radio spectrum matters. The Agency has an annual budget of about £40m and 500 staff, about 200 of whom work in local offices around the country.
P/98/895 |
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