Montenegro is set to introduce regulations aimed at decreasing the expenses associated with high-speed broadband deployment by mandating increased utilization and sharing of existing physical infrastructure. The legislative proposal is scheduled for parliamentary consideration on October 9 and will focus on access to infrastructure for very-high-capacity electronic communications networks.
This initiative addresses one of the major expenditures in fibre deployment: civil works. The processes involved in installing new ducts, excavating trenches, and securing rights of way can significantly contribute to network investment, particularly in smaller towns and rural regions.
By promoting the greater use of existing ducts, poles, and other infrastructure, the initiative aims to make broadband expansion more economical and efficient. This shift could foster a specialized market encompassing fibre engineering, GIS mapping, infrastructure databases, duct and pole inspections, permitting support, and shared-network management.
Accurate data will play a vital role in this effort. Telecom operators need comprehensive knowledge of existing assets, available spare capacity, and control over access to facilitate effective infrastructure sharing.
The value of digital asset registers and network-mapping systems is expected to rise as a result. Additionally, infrastructure owners may discover new commercial opportunities; utilities, municipalities, and other operators with existing ducts or poles could potentially earn extra income by permitting telecom companies to utilize their spare physical capacity.
This regulatory framework may alter the economic landscape for assets that have traditionally been viewed solely as operational infrastructure. For telecom companies, a primary advantage lies in minimizing redundancy. Multiple operators working in the same areas can drive up costs without necessarily enhancing coverage.
Through coordinated construction efforts and shared resources, more capital can be allocated towards active network equipment and customer connections. However, successful implementation will hinge on access pricing, technical standards, and mechanisms for resolving disputes.
Telecom operators must also be assured that shared infrastructure will be reliable and available under predictable commercial terms. For Montenegro, this legislation represents a shift from merely focusing on broadband policy to addressing the underlying physical economics that support it.
If infrastructure sharing proves effective, the forthcoming phase of fibre growth may rely as much on optimizing the use of existing ducts and poles as it does on new construction initiatives.
