OREANDA-NEWS. May 7, 2009. The congratulatory message reads, in part:

“This day marks 150 years since the birth of Alexander Popov, the inventor of the radio and a great Russian scientist and engineer. His intrepid experiments allowed us to expand the horizons of our technical knowledge, not only in Russia, but all around the world.

Nowadays, it is hard to picture our society without modern means of communication. It is also difficult to imagine the development of our economy, science, and culture without these means. Mobile and satellite connections, digital television, and the internet help to connect countries and continents. They broaden our opportunities to engage in international projects and create a truly free and universal space for people to communicate and develop creative expression.

Today, people working in this sector face new, important challenges. These include implementing innovative technologies, modernising information networks, and converting television broadcasts into the digital format. This work truly requires the most highly-qualified specialists, who approach their work with a strong sense of responsibility.

I am certain that your expertise, energy, and adherence to professional traditions will allow you to continue to actively augment this sector’s potential in the future, helping Russia to gain ground within the global information field.”