Rostelecom, Russia’s national telecommunications operator, opened its first digital signature center yesterday, reports CNews.ru, a website covering IT and telecommunications issues.
Rostelecom offers USB keys designed to facilitate access to e-government services. The keys cost 600 rubles—a little more than $20.
Russia’s e-government portal began offering personalized accounts and services in 2010. However, obtaining a personal login and password requires going through numerous online steps and then waiting for the administration’s verification and confirmation, which are sent by postal mail. For one CNews.ru journalist, this procedure took no less than one month.
Rostelecom plans to open 80 such digital signature centers before July 1 based on the company’s sales and client-support centers in various cities throughout Russia.
Rostelecom was appointed in March by the Russian government to implement important parts of the federal Information Society 2011–2020 program, including the creation of an “electronic government” infrastructure.
