General Director of Telekom Serbia, Vladimir Lučić, announced today that customers of the company will soon be able to use 5G technology in Germany starting this week, with plans for its rollout in Serbia next year. His statement, aired on the morning program of TV “Happy,” has been widely covered by domestic portals, including Sputnik.
Lučić highlighted that over 50% of Montenegro’s territory is already covered by this technology, allowing all visitors to experience the “powerful 5G network.”
“We are committed to establishing a high-quality 5G network, recognized as crucial for the Western Balkans’ 5G development. We are fully prepared to swiftly expand this network across Serbia,” Lučić stated in his interview with Hepi TV.
Over Three Years of Anticipation However, Serbia has been awaiting the deployment of a robust 5G network since 2021, when SBB submitted a request to the relevant ministry to initiate the process of allocating 5G frequencies.
Miloš Stojković, a legal expert and consultant on 5G regulatory issues for Nova.rs, explained that alongside the request, an expert study was submitted, highlighting the benefits of introducing a new mobile operator into the market and proposing suitable auction models aligned with the best European practices.
Stojković outlined that RATEL conducted public consultations with stakeholders from May to September 2021, culminating in an October decision affirming the fulfillment of conditions for frequency allocation.
“Subsequently, the ministry was tasked with drafting regulations to govern participation in the auction. However, three years on, these regulations are still pending. Reasons cited ranged widely, including calls for new legislation, despite the existing legal framework sufficing for the process,” noted Stojković. He further added that while the ministry announced plans in September 2023 to initiate public discussion on the regulations, no discussions have commenced nor have the regulations been finalized, without any clear explanations for the delay.
“Experience from developed European nations demonstrates that introducing a new operator stimulates market mechanisms, enhances competition, lowers prices, and improves service quality. Moreover, the state benefits economically from auctions, suggesting minimal drawbacks and rather positive outcomes from welcoming new operators,” Stojković concluded.
