Yettel’s Chief Executive Officer, Mike Michel, said that the company will continue the rollout of its 5G network across Serbia in 2026 and that the legal merger with cable operator SBB is scheduled for April 1, 2026.
Under the planned arrangement, SBB will cease to exist as a separate legal entity, and its operations will be fully integrated under Yettel. Michel emphasised that this does not mean the SBB brand will disappear immediately, but that in the long term the combined business will operate under a single brand identity.
Reflecting on 2025, Michel said the most significant development for the company was Yettel’s acquisition and takeover of SBB by e& PPF Telecom Group, and the beginning of the integration process. According to him, the merger unites two market leaders — Yettel in mobile communications and SBB in household broadband and TV services — and will transform the combined business from a traditional telecom provider into a broader digital and technology company. The goal is to expand service offerings for both individual and corporate customers, delivering a wide ecosystem of services under a single subscription that eliminates redundant costs and leverages a high-quality network.
Michel highlighted that Yettel’s network is a key competitive advantage and that the company has already upgraded its infrastructure in recent years to support modern technologies, including 5G. Following the rollout, 5G traffic accounted for a notable share of total mobile data usage early on, and Yettel plans to expand coverage progressively beyond major cities and tourist hubs as the network grows.
He also emphasised that the company has made substantial investments in the Serbian market, including over €100 million for spectrum licences and more than €60 million in network modernisation during 2025. These investments underpin the 5G rollout, which introduces faster speeds, minimal latency and enhanced reliability, enabling advanced mobile services for both consumers and business users.
On the commercial front, Yettel said it strengthened its market position in 2025, growing its customer base across mobile, home internet and TV services. Combined, Yettel and SBB are approaching 900,000 users in Serbia, and the company remains focused on expanding its ecosystem.
Michel also noted ongoing work to integrate digital banking services into the Yettel offering, with ambitions to make Yettel Bank a leading retail bank in Serbia — an element of the broader digital ecosystem that combines telecommunications and financial services.
Looking ahead, Yettel intends to continue its digital transformation in 2026, emphasising data, artificial intelligence and service innovation as cornerstones of future growth. Michel reiterated that the company sees itself as a leader in shaping Serbia’s digital landscape.
