Bulgaria is ready to host the Regional Cyber Security Forum for Europe in 2020. Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov stated this during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Houlin Zhao. This will be the fourth edition of the forum holding in Bulgaria.
Minister Jeliazkov emphasized Bulgaria's role in the International Telecommunication Union’s activity in Southeast Europe. They also talked about the topical issues facing the sector as well as future joint initiatives. The talks between Houlin Zhao and Rossen Jeliazkov were during the World Summit on Information Society, 8 – 10 April in Geneva.
Within the forum, Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov held a formal meeting with the President of ICANN, Göran Marby. They emphasized the fruitful cooperation between the two organizations. The preservation of the Internet users’ rights, the introduction of 5G, the reform of the WHOIS database in connection with the General Regulation on Personal Data Protection and other matters were discussed.
Minister Jeliazkov said that end users should have free access in using services and applications in the global network. "Internet must keep its technological neutrality," added the Minister.
Jelizakov informed Marby on the particularities of the telecommunications market in Bulgaria, the conditions for the users regarding the mobile services rendered and the provision of mobile and fixed internet, as well as the need for radio spectrum exemption. Göran Marby said there was an opportunity for some operators in Northern Europe to be interested in entering the Bulgarian market.
The focus of the conversation was on the limitations that the General Regulation on Personal Data Protection creates for the smooth functioning of the WHOIS database, which in turn is relatively transparent. Göran Marby notified on ICANN's intense communication with the European Commission to address the challenges posed by the introduction of the regulation with regard to the provision of user identification information to the Internet. In this regard, Minister Jeliazkov offered assistance, asking for an opinion from the Bulgarian Data Protection Commission on the case.
Today, within the World Summit on Information Society issues, Minister Jeliazkov will also take part in a Ministerial Round Table.
