Telecommunication interest of the nation in terms of site blocking

To my thinking, the priority policy of Azerbaijani telecommunications is the updating of existing systems in line with national interests, and the chief thing therein is the immunity and safety of communication and Internet services.

The life reveals that the development of communications worldwide rests on "digital divide" when new technologies in the sphere of communications of developed countries led to the appearance of more than one hundred services. One cannot imagine the future telecommunications and electronic government (EG) without mass media, particularly, without regard for mutual relations between mass media and telecommunications.

It is essential to carry out measures aimed at developing present-day communication infrastructure together with the introduction of necessary services in the information-communication technologies (ICT). Also, it is necessary to identify new priorities of the Azerbaijani ICT, including the development of transparent electronic mass media in the country.

Nowadays, we are involved in the communicative expanse with its anonymousness and new image and thought while Internet expands a range of consumer"s intercourse contributing to the free self-expression in mass media. In turn, mass media is noted for essential changes that have decisive effect on the transformation of modern system of communication and mass media of Azerbaijan.

It is the digital telecommunication that formed the basis of mass media transformation in all its forms - textual, graphic, acoustic текстовой, графической, звуковой - into digital format compatible with present-day computer technologies. As a result of mass media and telecommunication interrelation, media turns into a special information-communication environment where mass media products overcome ant frontiers and countries while Internet enhances mutual connection between telecommunication and journalism to become a major factor of modern mass media alterations. In all probability, site closing under the pretext of slander implies direct use of censorship over mass media.

Given the above, national interests in the communication sector are meant to decide the following issues: annual inventory of existing communication networks of the country; expertise, technical audit and compatibility of all network decisions in the communication sector; branch standardization and certification of communication services; development of national standards of technological designing on country"s communication networks, etc.

To all appearance, blocking of sites without technological designing under the pretext of slander is none other than censorship.

It has to be kept in mind that the implementation of the said measures will make it possible to ensure integrity and improve reliability of communication networks of common use, as well as create conditions for adoption of new digital ICT technologies without any paper projects.

For more than 15 years we learn from mass media about ICT project (dated 17.02.2003). But it remains unclear how to complete this project in Azerbaijan. In the meanwhile, small Estonia as participant of Skype engineering has been successful in implementing in 2005 an ICT program "Tiger"s jump," and whole world uses "Scype" freely (unlike our Asan Xidmet).

Adoption of new kinds of services, improvement of their quality, ensuring of competition and protection of rights and interests of telecommunication consumers with due regard for national interests of the country would provide all of us with equal status in Internet tariffs (from ordinary student to country"s chief banker).

In all probability, a real doctrine of Azerbaijan"s information security is required (the point is about functions of the Center of electronic security (CES) of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and High Technologies (MTCHT) to strictly specify national interests of the country within the framework of "cyber security" when adjusted for real and presupposed threats against country"s infrastructure.

Even the United States has to admit that they cannot be completely secured against cyberattacks and that every country has its own rules that require permanent update and development. Note that there are countries that avail themselves of cyberspace for getting access to new technologies. http://www.turan.az/ext/news/2018/7/free/Worldwide/ru/73895.htm

All these call for solution of a number of technical and cadre issues in the communication sector.

Leaving aside professionalism of our specialists and sometimes inability to fight against cyberattacks against some state-owned web-resources, we have to work out specific measures aimed at protecting cyberspace of Azerbaijan. Special services of developed countries are in position to penetrate in our state enterprises through the use of cyberspace as one of the methods to conduct sabotage or hybrid war (attacks on enterprises in country"s infrastructure) which calls for particular caution. https://haqqin.az/oldage/133139.

For this reason it is required to specify a legal system of an independent communication sector regulator and ensure competitiveness, alternative, transparency and security of the МТСHТ with a private sector of country"s telecommunication.

It is necessary to ensure the planning, designing and construction of communication network elements with an allowance for national security and recommendations of the International Union of Telecommunications (IUT), avoid control of special services (even homegrown ones) as was the case with corruption scandal in the Ministry of Communication in autumn 2015.

Of particular significance is the making and support of national producer in keeping with country"s national interests. Note that Azerbaijan has no its own producers, and we cannot offer our competitive equipment for their control, as does Belarus.

It transpires that we neglect some important aspects of communication sector development, especially in creating national branch producers. In this respect an introduction of new digital technologies for small Azerbaijan has to be based on single-type commutation systems. However, we are far from continuity in communication projects, hence, tenders were held in line with "negation of negations" law implying our own mercantile interests (a new tender - a new system - a new bribe).

It is obviously drawbacks in the technological and scientific policy of communication sector of Azerbaijan that led to the following situation: over 25 years with allowance for 2 currently operating electromechanical ATS systems АТС, the following digital systems of commutation have been introduced on tender basis in our country since с 1993: DMS-100, System-X, System-12, DAEWOO, Alcatel and NGN; for rural networks: DRX-4, Quantum, Karel, etc. with obvious mercantile interests in the branch. Suffice it to remind that a new system wins nearly every tender.

It is imperative to develop fixed telephones with extension of capacities of a new generation network (NGN) across the country, introduce innovation technologies and systems of "trouble-free servicing" of customers together with improving the quality of communication and Internet services, line structures of Azerbaijani regions. But what system will a new MTCHT team suggest (without disturbing traditions) to replace existing new generation networks (NGN) (supposed sum of the project up to 1 billion manats to provide the whole country with NGN) (http://www.e-azerbaijan.info/site/news/2465)?

Below-cited is an algorithm constituting a foundation of our country"s communication network development:

• Ensuring of a single order of the system of interaction operative-technical control over networks through communications centers of Azerbaijani regions.
• Management of country"s communication networks by non-state regulator, outside the MTCHT for ensuring greater tyransparency
• Establishment of selective communication networks on country"s territory by any physical and legal entities of Azerbaijan as alternative and competition.
• Resolution of the weakest link of communication sector lies in the improvement of the quality of the last mile in country"s communication network, enhancement of its security and reliability, especially in rural regions of Azerbaijan.
• Azerbaijan"s departure from new notorious paper projects, etc. To enhance effectiveness of the communication sector of the country in the nearest two years, it is essential to take measures aimed at restructuring the communication sector.

We have no time any longer, that"s why responsiveness of national interests in telecommunications of Azerbaijan calls for solving topical issues of non-state regulation of communication market services.

It is essential to introduce transparent procedures of technological policy; update existing communication networks of the country; improve tariffs for communication services by three categories of consumers: population, public organization and business; creation of home communication producers; creative management of the branch and ensuring of national security, not a war against mass media.

At present, the world is running through globalization of information infrastructure with its networks from various countries acting as binding and cementing link of our contemporary civilization. That"s why national interests should be echoed in the concept of development of country"s branches to serve as a fundamental document of perspective development.

Many people are aware of the fact that there is living money circulating in the transport and communication sector and that the new branch is profit-making and effective. National interests should be directed to augmenting the national income, ensuring the independence and security of Azerbaijan, not to raising prices for population" services or closing information sites.

Also, communication sector efforts should be directed to reducing tariffs and ensuring price accessibility for mobile telephones. In this respect a leading economy of Azerbaijan to carry out "reforms" is competition and alternative to ensure transparency. In the meanwhile, the public regulation as impracticable mission even despite "road maps" is just half-measures without real vital effect for Azerbaijan"s economy.