The UMTS Forum and Russia's 3G Association have signed a co-operation agreement to promote the success of 3G/UMTS mobile systems in the Russian region. The agreement was signed at a Joint Workshop hosted by the two associations held in Moscow this week. Titled '3G Cellular Communications Introduction in Russia', the event included participation of operator and manufacturer members of both organisations, as well as members of Russia's telecoms administrations. Exploring 3G's future in Russia, the workshop featured presentations examining regulatory, spectrum, market, deployment and service aspects of 3G/UMTS. The workshop was introduced by Alexander Kiselyov, Deputy Minister of Informational Technologies and Communications of the Russian Federation, who also delivered a welcome address on behalf of Leonid Reiman, Minister of Informational Technologies and Communications. A speech of welcome was also presented on behalf of Vladimir L. Gorbachev, the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Energy, Transport and Communications of the State Duma, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. With 3G licensing in Russia anticipated next year, mobile industry players in the region have signalled the importance of 3G/UMTS in providing additional network capacity and new services, particularly in dense urban regions where current cellular networks are becoming increasingly congested. With approaching twenty five 3G/UMTS networks already launched commercially elsewhere in the world plus many more in trial, Russia has expressed its intention to create a licensing framework based on the experiences to date of 3G network operators in other countries while also considering the unique geopolitical and economic features of Russia. "In Russia there already exists not only the conditions for deploying 3G networks, but also all the capabilities", noted 3G Association Executive Director Andrey Skorodumov. "It's widely believed that the deployment of 3G networks across all Russia should take place even earlier than there is demand for them. This may provide a unique chance for accelerated development of the country's whole telecommunications industry." The UMTS Forum is an international body that promotes the global uptake of UMTS third generation mobile systems and services.