Via the Mechanics’ Institute newsletter, which notes that the following announcement, signed by the FIDE president, has been published at FIDE.com:

I am proud to announce today’s launch of the limited test version of FIDE online arena, FIDE’s official Internet playing platform developed in cooperation
with CNC. In October 2013, after the Executive Board meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, the fully operational version of FIDE online arena will be in service and available all over the world. FIDE firmly believes that online chess offers enormous opportunities for millions of chess lovers who are unable to regularly participate in over-the board events for a variety of reasons: professional and family commitments, problems reaching tournaments and other difficulties, etc.

Now FIDE makes the virtual real with an online arena that allows players to compete in top class tournaments with official FIDE ratings. The attractiveness
and ease of online chess will also draw millions of new players – in particular the young. FIDE online arena will be an important step in achieving my goal
of ‘1 billion chess players’ throughout the world.