Sergei Ivanov said in a report to President Vladimir Putin that he had discussed the issue with top officials of the Russian Space Agency and the Federal Agency for Industry after receiving Putin's instructions to speed up the program in December.
"The program can be accelerated, and this does not require substantial additional funds," Ivanov said, adding that it would cost $53 million this year.
The minister said the economic benefit of the program would be largely to civilians rather than the military.
He added that some research had already been done on how to use the system in the future.
"Land-based equipment, from ship and aircraft receivers to equipment for trains, private cars and cargo traffic, has been developed," Ivanov said. "It would even be possible, given sufficient market demand, to provide receiving equipment for people and even their pets."
The minister said that Glonass could be put into operation in Russia in 2007, and come into global use in 2009, if the program is accelerated.
