National radio engineering bureau (NRTB)

NRTB Ltd - is specialized enterprise on carrying out theoretical and pilot studies and tests in the EMS area, to accomplishment of Research and Development for the benefit of operators of the state and commercial networks of television and broadcasting, a cellular and trunking radio communication, other enterprises of an economic complex and also the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. Since 2000 the group of scientists and engineers of NRTB Ltd jointly with specialists of headquarters and the research organizations of the Russian Defense Ministry conducts successfully theoretical and experimental natural (land and flight) researches for the purpose of determination of conditions of ensuring electromagnetic compatibility (EMS) of radio-electronic funds (distribution zone) of networks of the overland mobile radio communication (OMRC) of the standards GSM-900, GSM-1800, TETRA, DECT, NMT-450, IMT-MC-450, IMT-2000/UMTS from the distribution zone of military application, including radio relay communication lines and means of radio navigation.

NRTB Ltd performs works on design and construction of technology networks of a fixed and mobile radio communication based on the equipment of foreign and domestic production, performs a full stroke of development and implementation, radio systems, necessary for effective functioning.

In particular, the company developed the upgraded work benches of landing in military airfields allowing to use more effectively frequencies for cellular communication.

Clients and partners

Clients of NRTB are mobile operators of "the big three" and regional operators for whom the expertizes which are carried out by the company on compatibility of their radio-electronic means with military services are necessary for obtaining permissions to use of radio frequencies. NRTB specifies by the partners the General Staff of armed forces, General staff of the Air Force, Headquarters of space troops, etc.

According to information which till October, 2010 was available on the website of NRTB, the vice-chairman of Board of Directors of the company was Boris Cheltsov, from 2000 to 2007 holding a position of the chief of General staff of the Air Force.

History

• In 2000 the National Radio Engineering Bureau private company is formed.

• In 2005 the company became the official distributor of the geoinformation ArcGIS platform and offers a range of services on implementation of a corporate geographic information system.

• At the end of 2009 the State Radio Frequency Commission selected NRTB together with the Ministry of Defence frequency band 20 MHz wide in 14 regions for testing of E-GSM technology (the expanded version of the standard of cellular communication of GSM).

• On October 28, 2010 it became known that former employees accuse Victor Prikhodko, the owner of NRTB company (helps "the big three" to get permissions of the Ministry of Defence to use of frequencies), in transfer of money of mobile operators to state officials as remunerations. Prikhodko denies it, connecting charges with a raider attack on its business.

The application registered (No. 13522) on October 26 addressed to the chief of the Municipal Department of Internal Affairs of Moscow Vladimir Kolokoltsev submitted by the former administrative assistant to "VP — Finance and Resources" company (VPFIR) Olesya Romashko^[1] was at disposal of CNews^[1]. In it Romashko asks to protect it from threats from the deputy director general of this firm and the chairman of the board of directors "National radio engineering bureau" Victor Prikhodko's (NRTB). Romashko considers the reason of threats information on financial frauds of Prikhodko, withdrawal of money which is available for it abroad, drawing up false contracts and tampering of the high-ranking Russian officials.

Olesya Romashko writes in the statement that executing Prikhodko's orders, she knew about money transfer of mobile operators through NRTB in offshore structures. Further money, according to its information, was paid as "thanks" to state officials. According to her, the CEO of NRTB Andrey Kharin was forced to leave because refused to sign the relevant documents. Kharin confirmed CNews the fact of the dismissal, without having begun to discuss details.

Gave evidences in Economic Crime Department on the matter also personal assistant Prikhodko to Anastasius Stepanov (the copy of its indications is available at the disposal of CNews). In them it is in detail told about the scheme of withdrawal of money from NRTB. According to her, the company transfers money under dummy agreements to structures VPFIR controlled by Prikhodko and "The agency of telecommunication projects" (ATP, 24% its stocks are owned VPFIR) which, in turn, list them to the Austrian UTT Marketing Services (UTT MS) as payment of rights to use of the software of the Globtechnet&Trading company registered in the UAE. Being the director of UTT MS, Stepanova claims that it is the company of any software does not make and does not buy, and her only employee is Prikhodko who receives the means which came from Russia as salary.

Edition CNews studied agreements between NRTB, VPFIR and ATP in which NRTB orders and pays VPFIR and ATP execution of works for VimpelCom, MTS, MegaFon and "daughters" of Tele2. The agreement between ATP and UTT MS on purchase of the rights to use software for assessment of an electromagnetic situation was also submitted to edition. At the disposal of CNews there is agreement between Prikhodko's spouses and the Austrian lawyer Frans Markus Nestl on transfer to it in management of the stocks UTT MS and also the certificate from the government of the emirate of Sharjah on registration Globetechnet&Trading in which Victor Prikhodko is designated by the owner of the company.

Provided above-mentioned documents of CNews to Victor Prikhodko who became after Andrey Kharin's leaving by the CEO of NRTB. Without having begun to deny in essence information on financial flows between belonging to it the companies, Prikhodko assured that he did not make any illegal transactions, threatened nobody and did not pay to officials any remunerations. According to him, mobile operators address for services in NRTB because his company has a unique airplane tester, patents and own software.

No withdrawal of money, according to Prikhodko, comes from the company as "NRTB reports to customers for really carried out work". Called statements of the former employees of Prikhodko "slanderous", having connected their emergence with "a raider attack" to NRTB.

Anastasia Stepanova who gave evidences to Economic Crime Department about assets and Prikhodko's actions does not know whether criminal case is brought on the basis of the opened facts. The basis for evidence of militia she calls mutual interest – it and Economic Crime Department.

• In January, 2011 it became known that National Radio Engineering Bureau LLC (NRTB) demands from MegaFon $9.45 million for works on clearing of frequencies in Moscow.

The claim of NRTB to MegaFon is registered by Arbitration court of Moscow (the copy - at Vedomosti). The claimant claims that the operator did not pay in addition to him for works on "removal of space and power restrictions" for use of the frequencies of 880-915 MHz and 925-960 MHz in Moscow.

According to the agreement of January 20, 2010 (Vedomosti studied the copy) MegaFon had to pay NRTB LLC of $28.32 million (including the VAT). The first part - $7.08 million - in the first five days after agreement signature, $11.8 million more - after the approval of the report on the done work, and $9.44 million - after issue to MegaFon of permissions of Roskomnadzor to use of frequencies. The two first payment MegaFon made, said in the claim in time, and the third part of the amount is not paid. Though got permission of Roskomnadzor MegaFon still on November 23 (Vedomosti has a copy of permission). NRTB asks to exact $9.44 million plus $9440 of a penalty from MegaFon.

The source close to NRTB is sure: MegaFon does not pay as it received the requirement of the similar amount from the company, of the same name with NRTB, - National Radio Engineering Bureau Ltd acting as subcontractor of NRTB. About same it is told in the letter of Andrey Kharin working as the CEO of NRTB Ltd from 2007 to October 26, 2010, the Chairman of the Committee of the Federation Council on defense and security Victor Ozerov. Kharin claims: though the Ltd company completely was calculated with closed joint stock company for subcontracting on work for MegaFon (having paid to subcontractor more than $8 million), the main owner of closed joint stock company, Victor Prikhodko, referring to "support at the management of the Ministry of Communications", demanded from MegaFon also $9.5 million, the due Ltd companies. The letter is original, Kharin told Vedomosti.

Prikhodko calls the statements of Ltd company slyness. Works for MegaFon, despite existence of the agreement with NRTB LLC, were carried out by closed joint stock company existing 10 years, he claims. At a conciliatory meeting of State commission on radio frequencies (SCRF) work was charged to it, he says, and the Ltd company was created after mailing to members of SCRF of materials of a conciliatory meeting. NRTB Ltd already submitted a claim to Ltd company concerning illegal use of the name, Prikhodko adds.

According to SPARK-Interfax, NRTB LLC is registered on November 27, 2009 - in two weeks prior to a meeting of SCRF, the official close to the commission emphasizes. All works for MegaFon were performed by NRTB Ltd to which it also was entrusted, he says. The Ltd company, according to him, used that in the decision of SCRF (of December 15, 2009) the name NRTB was specified without civil form (internal check is about it conducted now).

Documents on creation of Ltd company began to prepare in August, 2009, before discussion of a question of frequencies for MegaFon, the CEO of Ltd company Boris Zvezdarev objects. And MegaFon signed the agreement with Ltd company and should perform it, he adds.

• Since July, 2011 the National Radio Engineering Bureau Private company (NRTB Ltd, the CEO Dr.Sci.Tech. Prikhodko V.V.) entered the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), having become the member of ITU-R (the sector of a radio communication of ITU). The major the direction of ITU-R is management internationally use of a radio frequency spectrum and orbits of satellites – limited natural resources, demand for which constantly grows from escalating number of consumers of a radio-frequency resource of different radio services.

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