OREANDA-NEWS. May 29, 2009. The Estonian Culture Ministry has announced a competition as a result of which 31 holders of radio broadcasting licenses will be issued, including local and regional licenses and one international license.

Peeter Sookruus, head of the Culture Ministry media and copyright department, said that the reason for such a large competition was that late this fall almost all broadcasting licenses would expire simulataneously.

"The new licenses will be issued to all the present frequences, and there will also be four totally new broadcasting licenses.

Broadcasting organizations must file applications to the ministry by June 22. The broadcasting licenses committee will then meet to consider all the applications and to make a proposal to the minister for the appointment of the broadcasting licenses.

Radio stations will go on the air on the basis of new licenses from November 17, 2009.

All the licenses to be given in the competition announced on Tuesday will be in effect for up to five years.