November 2000

Slovenia Update Memo

The following report outlines new developments in the past three months and the state of on-going developments.

1. Introduction and Summary

The new government, knowing that new elections were getting closer and closer and that there is no time left, did lots of management changes in the government sector. That delayed government actions and legislations procedures. Besides that, all political parties have been intensively starting to prepare for the new autumn elections and the government focused only on performing the most important current issues. These events resulted in moderate changes in the telecommunications regulatory framework.

2. Information Society Policy

Government issued an ordinance about changes and supplements in the ordinance for distribution of radio frequency spectrum in Slovenia, which was published in the year 1998.

Government also issued an ordinance about changes and supplements in the ordinance for granting the concession for usage of radio frequency spectrum at 1800 MHz for mobile telephony service. Tender was published in 1999 and four companies presented their offers: Western Wireless form USA, Teleimpuls from Slovenia, but 100% owned by Mobilkom from Austria and two local mobile operators Mobitel and Simobil.

Government passed the law on electronic business and digital signature. This law regulates electronic business, which is defined as business in electronic form, conducted across remote access using communication and information technology. Law also defines how digital signature should be used in day-to-day business and legal transactions.

Government also issued ordinance about which defines conditions for conducting electronic business and using digital signature. This ordinance defines rules and standards which are used for judging the activity of the verifiers, issuing verifications, and it also includes internal rules of verifiers and their activities, definitions regarding signing and verifying safe electronic messages, time validity of verifications, safe time mark, marks of the accredited verifiers and definitions when conducting electronic business in public sectors. Ordinance also defines that all hardware, software and procedures used to conduct electronic business has to be in compliance with EU standards.

3. Standardisation bodies dealing with IS issues

Government Centre for Informatics established a new agency called SIGOV-CE. This agency takes care for the verification of the digital signature and public keys, which is the bases for electronic commerce and electronic business.

4. Relevant standards

Government also issued ordinance about which defines conditions for conducting electronic business and using digital signature. This ordinance defines rules and standards which are used for judging the activity of the verifiers, issuing verifications, and it also includes internal rules of verifiers and their activities, definitions regarding signing and verifying safe electronic messages, time validity of verifications, safe time mark, marks of the accredited verifiers and definitions when conducting electronic business in public sectors. Ordinance also defines that all hardware, software and procedures used to conduct electronic business has to be in compliance with EU standards.