“I believe that the crisis is presently affecting more the implementation of projects in this industry which have a state component, than the fall of a government. Governments will continue to change. Another Executi- I ve will be appointed, but I believe that the current economic crisis has led to cuts in budgets for such projects. However, in my opinion, it is precisely IT infrastructure programs or the beginning of such concepts to be financed with foreign funds - and financing sources do exist - that could be one of the remedies for the economic downturn,” ANCOM’s President told Business Standard.

Marinescu will talk about the evolution in the first half of this year of the telecom market at the Global Forum 2009, an event developed in partnership with Business Standard, which will take place on 19 and 20 October, at the Palace of the Parliament.

Players in the industry indicated that projects with the state were either not initiated or suffered repeated delays in payments. Market players add that the rebound of the local IT&C sector depends on the electoral period ending and on the state apparatus returning to normal.

“I believe that the rebound also depends on the global economic situation, because Romania is part of a world context, and there are signs of rebound on the international market. Last week, at the European Regulatory Group, I saw that some signs are being felt already of a rebound in Western countries and in the North,” Marinescu said.

The official indicated that the broadband segment will bring higher added value, because line services, such as voice phone services, have reached a level of penetration which no longer allows for spectacular development.

In terms of broadband penetration, we are somewhere at the mid-point of the European average. We can only offer incentives and stimulate operators to implement the new technologies. There will also be a new offer from a cable operator, so there are moves on the market that we will encourage.

There is also a plan at the ministry for a state aid scheme, to take broadband to those locations where the free market has not stimulated operators to become involved,” Marinescu said. According to market sources, the UPC telecom operator is expected to launch new data packages on the broadband segment.