Maximal subgroups and strong completeness of profinite groups. (Q895797)

One of the most impressive recent results of the profinite group theory was the result of \textit{N. Nikolov} and \textit{D. Segal} [in Ann. Math. (2) 165, No. 1, 171-238, 239-273 (2007; Zbl 1126.20018)] stating that every subgroup of finite index of a finitely generated profinite group is open. The author jointly with \textit{M. G. Smith} [in Arch. Math. 80, No. 2, 123-129 (2003; Zbl 1039.20011)] extended Nikolov and Segal's result to profinite groups that have only finitely many subgroups of index \(n\) for each natural \(n\). In this paper the author proves the same result under the weaker hypothesis, namely for profinite groups having countably many maximal subgroups of finite index.