In the first five months of 2024, Serbia’s export of ICT products and services reached €1.6 billion, marking a 20.5% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth follows a record €3.4 billion in ICT exports for the previous year, according to the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications (MIT).
The MIT highlights that, during the first 100 days of the new government, substantial efforts have been made to enhance public information and telecommunications capacities. These efforts are focused on boosting ICT sector exports and expanding high-speed internet access across the country. The Ministry anticipates that ICT exports will exceed €4 billion by the end of this year.
The ICT sector continues to be the fastest-growing segment of Serbia’s economy, contributing significantly to the nation’s living standards, overall development, and GDP growth. The National Bank of Serbia has previously reported that the ICT sector’s service exports have been growing rapidly, underscoring its role as a key economic driver.
Last year, former Prime Minister Ana Brnabić set ambitious goals for the ICT sector, aiming for exports to surpass €10 billion and for 140,000 people to be employed in the sector. Recent data from the Ministry indicates a 13.3% increase in the average net salary in the ICT sector, which now stands at 234,407 dinars. Employment in the sector has also risen, with 111,352 people employed as of June 2024, up from 108,129 in 2023.
Among the MIT’s notable achievements is the ongoing development of optical infrastructure in rural Serbia. The second phase of this project aims to extend high-speed internet to more remote areas, involving the construction of approximately 4,000 kilometers of optical routes across 500 settlements, with an estimated cost of 120 billion dinars.
In line with the Declaration of the All-Serbian Parliament on National and Political Rights, cooperation between Serbia’s Academic Network (AMRES) and the Academic and Research Network of Republika Srpska (SARNET) has been strengthened. This collaboration will significantly boost internet speeds from 1 gigabyte per second to 10 gigabytes per second, supporting higher education and scientific research in the region.
On August 8, the Serbian Government adopted the Strategy for the Development of the Electronic Communications System until 2027. The Strategy outlines the prerequisites for introducing 5G networks in Serbia, including the establishment of regulatory frameworks and security standards. It also emphasizes the need for ongoing construction of optical connecting roads in both urban and rural areas.
