MTS to extend the application period for Telecom Idea 2013 contest

The Organizing Committee of the 3rd contest of youth innovation projects in telecommunications Telecom Idea, dedicated to the development of Internet technologies, announces extension of the registration deadline to the 26th of April, 2013 due to the introduction of new thematic categories.

The main theme of Telecom Idea 2013 contest, conducted by MTS under the Elevator to the Future programme of Sistema JSFC, is related to the development prospects of fixed and mobile broadband Internet, and the creation of innovative services based on data transmission for different economy sectors, social and public spheres. The competition is open for projects that offer solutions to optimize and monetize the growing data traffic in telecom networks at different stages of development - from an idea to a test model, including tech solutions and software for communication systems, new services, mobile apps and web services, digital content, innovations in marketing and management.

The participants of Telecom Idea will be able to tell about their projects within a blog competition. Those successfully passed the qualifying round will take part in special educational programme provided by Higher School of Marketing and Business Development, HSE. The finalists of Telecom Idea will receive professional assistance from mentors in preparation for the public defense of their projects which will take place in Moscow in the summer of 2013. They will also receive a unique opportunity to automatically get the Russian Startup Index (RSI) after an independent peer review with the support of RVC. The RSI will allow startups to get promotion on the venture capital market, attract experts, investors and the innovation infrastructure representatives: RVC, Skolkovo and others.

The grand prize for the winners will be a foreign educational seminar and tour, during which the innovators will learn about the latest achievements in the global telecom industry. Telecom Idea winners will also receive valuable tech prizes and have the chance to present their projects to the leadership of MTS Group and the competition partners.

You need to submit your application online until April 26, 2013 in order to participate in Telecom Idea competition. The competition is open for adult citizens of Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Ukraine under the age of 35, both individuals and groups: students, young researchers, developers, and entrepreneurs.

Telecom Idea competition is organized by Mobile TeleSystems (MTS OJSC), the leading telecom operator in Russia and the CIS, with the support of the National Association for Innovations and Information Technologies (NAIRIT), the Ministry of Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation, the RF Ministry of Economic Development, the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of Moscow, Higher School of Economics (HSE), the RF Chamber of Commerce.