Minister of Information and Telecommunications, Boris Bratina, announced that mobile operators in Serbia will begin setting up 5G network stations by the end of 2025. He added that the EXPO 2027 complex will be fully covered by a 5G mobile network by the end of next year.
Bratina stated that the Ministry is working on two major projects in the telecommunications sector. The first involves launching the 5G network through a public tender. The process begins with the adoption of an ordinance that outlines the minimum conditions for issuing individual permits. The Ministry has prepared the draft ordinance, and once it comes into force, RATEL will be able to issue a decision to initiate the public bidding process.
According to Bratina, it is expected that RATEL will issue three individual licenses for the use of the radio-frequency spectrum supporting 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies. These licenses will be valid until 2047 and the proceeds from the licensing process will be considered revenue for the Republic of Serbia. He noted that the procedure has been in preparation for a long time and that mobile operators are ready for the 5G rollout.
The second project aims to expand Internet access in rural areas. Bratina emphasized the importance of providing high-speed Internet to residents in places that often lack connectivity. The government has launched an incentive program to build optical infrastructure in areas where telecom operators have no economic interest to invest. The value of the government’s investment is 152.7 million euros, and telecom operators such as Telekom Srbija, Orion Telekom, A1, Jetel, SBB, and Sat Trakt will invest a similar amount in access networks. Altogether, approximately 300 million euros will be invested.
So far, over 1,000 kilometers of optical routes have been built, covering 300 settlements. The plan is to build a total of 5,000 kilometers of optical routes, which will connect more than 150,000 households in about 950 rural settlements. In addition, over 1,000 remote school facilities, including those with only a few students, will gain Internet access.
Bratina concluded that the project is expected to be completed by 2027, at which point 98 to 99 percent of households in Serbia will have access to high-speed Internet. He highlighted the significance of this initiative, saying that in today’s world, the Internet has become essential for everyday functioning.
