The Russian government has approved in principle a draft decree on the privatization of Svyazinvest, the country’s national fixed-line telephone operator, and sent the document to the presidential administration, a source in the government told RBC.

Russia's Economic Development and Trade Ministry has issued a draft of guidelines on the privatization of Svyazinvest, a major telecommunications holding, a ministry source said Monday.

Russia’s Internet access and data transfer market continues to grow apace. In the estimation of J'son & Partners consultants, Russians spent $350 million in the first quarter of this year on Internet services, 55 percent more than in the same period last year.

Liberalization of the long-distance communications market has been postponed until January 1, 2006, from July 1, 2005, the press service of the information technology and telecommunications ministry has reported.

RTL Group clinched a deal here Friday for the purchase of a 30% stake in the Russian broadcaster Ren-TV. The European media holding, which is part of Bertelsmann AG, is buying the stake at an undisclosed price, from REN-TV's two co-founders and chief executives, Irena and Dmitry Lesnevsky.

After the launch of the English-language Russia Today TV-channel, Russia may be able to broadcast in other foreign languages, a senior official said Monday.

Svyazinvest privatization can be postponed until the beginning of 2006, Leonid Reyman, telecommunications minister, has told journalists today. He believes that this issue is of no fundamental importance.

It is over two centuries ago, when work was removed from home. The phrase “going to work” was later coined to mark the final dawn of the industrial era when workers moved en-mass from their houses to work in factories and offices on a daily basis. Prior to this date, most craftsmen and women worked from their dwelling places, which also served as their workplaces.

Digital broadcasting in Russia will make it possible to increase the number of national channels by more then 7 times, but will require more than RUR40bn (approx. USD1.44bn) in investments . . .

The President's decree concerning Svyazinvest's privatization can be issued already this summer, German Gref, minister of economic development and trade, has stated today at the exhibition Svyaz Expocomm 2005.