According to a local report, Russia’s President Putin has signed a decree paving the way for the creation of an all-media regulatory body. Combining the existing Federal Service for Telecom Supervision and Federal Mass Media and Cultural Heritage Oversight Service, its functions will range from monitoring the development of IT to all areas of the country’s TV industry. Separately, Alfa Group is reported to have raised its stake in Russia’s second largest mobile operator VimpelCom to 39.5%. VimpelCom currently has 55 million subscribers in Russia and other parts of the CIS and lists Norway’s Telenor as a 26.6% shareholder.
