The Hungarian Presidency assigned overriding significance to IT security: it was placed in the focus of the Telecom Ministerial Conference organised at Balatonfüred as well as the recently held meeting on the calling number 112, Mr Nyitrai reminded.

This is the very first time Tetra World Congress and exhibition, the largest global event of professional digital mobile communication, used primarily by defence organisations, is hosted by a CEE country. In addition to four thousand police chiefs, senior firemen and ambulance officers, representatives of global telecommunication companies and corporations in the vanguard of information technological development participate in the event organised by Hungexpo Budapest between 24-27 May 2011.

At the opening ceremony of the event, Zsolt Nyitrai stressed that safe communication was extremely important in view of terrorism and the various natural disasters we have recently experienced.TETRA is a professional radiocommunication standard and system used worldwide by organisations that require highly secure and strictly confidential communication. For the most part this technology, applied in 70 countries, provides for communication by first responders – the fire service, the emergency health services and the police -, but it is also instrumental in the work of key manufacturers and transport companies. The success of TETRA is evidenced by the fact that by now the European Union’s standard has spread in four other continents of the world.

Zsolt Nyitrai pointed out that the open digital trunked radio standards relying on TETRA technology have been used by ten Hungarian organisations.

Zsolt Nyitrai, current Chairman of the Telecommunications section in the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of the European Union stressed: the Hungarian Presidency supports the further promotion of welfare and competitiveness of European states and citizens on the basis of the European Digital Agenda. Moreover, new solutions are needed in spreading audiovisual content, Mr Nyitrai added.

He also pointed out that new media and new consumer habits profoundly refashioned the audiovisual market. In the online space, the average time viewing digitalised films and listening to music is far higher than the number of the interested people who could be attracted to cinemas and concerts. In order to enforce authors’ and composers’ copyrights, we need to elaborate a regulation that takes the new ways of content consumption into account while honouring authors’ special rights, Zsolt Nyitrai voiced.

He also noted that a conflict between the consumers of the audiovisual industry and authors does not lead anywhere; therefore the opportunity of a long-term dialogue and consensus must be sought.

Representing the Hungarian Presidency of the Europe Union, Minister of State for Infocommunication Zsolt Nyitrai delivered an inaugural address, stating that the number 112 was a symbolic solution for Europe’s unity, as by calling this number Europe’s citizens can get help in any Member State, and thus their general feeling of security will increase. In an emergency, every moment counts. This line saves lives, while also facilitating work for the emergency bodies.

Mr Nyitrai added: in the government programme high priority is assigned to the improvement of the services provided by the single emergency call network, and the Hungarian Government supports the related plans. After adoption of the relevant decision, in the near future Hungary can bring the 112 network to full completion in its territory. At the end of his welcome speech, the Minister of State expressed his hope that the conference would mark a milestone in the construction of the complete 112 network in Europe.

The participants of the workshop will also visit the Hungarian 112 centre, where they will be advised of handling calls from Hungary, and the work performed by Hungarian network operators.

The single European emergency number is operative in every Member State. The central dispatcher service can be called completely free of charge. The centre identifies the geographical position of the calling party with assistance from the telephone service providers, and GIS software display it on a monitor in order to facilitate and accelerate emergency relief.