Montenegro needs continued investment in telecommunications infrastructure, digital skills and business use of new technologies to advance its digital transformation, MTEL Director Zoran Milovanović said at the Western Balkans 2030 conference in Budva. He assessed that the country was well positioned to develop the sector further, while businesses would need to use new technologies more widely.
Telecommunications in Montenegro had advanced over the previous decade, with all three mobile operators investing in network development and introducing 5G, according to Milovanović. Users have a very good mobile internet experience in large cities and along road routes, and all three networks deliver very good performance. The networks also showed a high level of resilience during major disruptions in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Telecommunications were needed ten years ago and are essential today,” Milovanović said. Their importance would grow by 2030, he added, with 6G already forecast for that period. The comments placed further network development alongside the broader shift from digitalisation to changes in how companies organise their work and use technology.
Business adoption and skills
5G offers more than faster internet: it enables data transmission with minimal delay and allows large numbers of devices to connect. Milovanović identified sensor systems, robotics, automation, autonomous vehicles and medical applications, including remote operations, as possible uses. He said the technology’s potential was not yet fully exploited and that further investment would be needed, including to enable private networks for businesses and institutions.
The question, in his view, is how many companies in Montenegro will be able to use 5G and how widely its benefits can be shared given the further investment required. Small and medium-sized enterprises make up a significant part of the country’s economy, making it necessary to develop services and business models that can justify investment in advanced infrastructure. Telecom operators should present the opportunities offered by new solutions, while companies need to identify how to apply them.
Milovanović called for companies to move beyond digitalising existing processes to comprehensive digital transformation, which involves reorganising business processes and adapting to the capabilities of modern technologies. He praised the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro’s education activities and said trained, qualified staff were needed for transformation. He also described Montenegro’s human resources as a strength, with skilled and motivated people ready to take part in innovative projects and create new value.
“Montenegro has exceptional resources, both in people and innovation,” he said, describing the country as suitable for experimentation, rapid pilot projects and developing value that may not exist in other markets. He also called cybersecurity necessary now and increasingly important in the future. Access to European Union funds could support new projects and solutions, while preparations for EU membership and alignment of legislation with European rules and standards could improve the business environment and accelerate digital development.
Permits and sustainable revenue
Procedures for installing base stations and obtaining permits and approvals had previously been a significant obstacle to infrastructure development. Milovanović reported progress this year in the conditions, permits and approvals for base station installations, which he said mattered for 5G development and meeting user expectations. The conference panel, “Stories that Shape the Future of Investment,” also included Nina Drakić, president of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, and Branko Mitrović, president of the Foreign Investors Council in Montenegro.
As Montenegro approaches the European market and changes in roaming, operators want to provide users with high-quality services while finding sustainable business models to replace any revenue they may lose. Milovanović said 5G could support new applications across industries, but businesses would need to adopt them and invest in ways that deliver value. “This is an exceptionally suitable area for testing innovations and assessing their value for entering the global market,” he said.
