According to current estimates, telecommunications companies invested 33 million euros in that sector last year, announced Pobjeda from the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (EKIP).
The Agency says that despite certain barriers, operators in Montenegro are constantly investing in the development of infrastructure and the introduction of new technologies and services for users. They announced the investment of 26 million euros this year.
Investment
– In the previous ten years, operators have invested 600 million euros, of which almost 400 million in the previous five years. The multi-year trend of high investments confirms that we have a stable and predictable legal and regulatory framework in Montenegro, which has created equal conditions for all market participants – said EKIP and added that in the course of 2021, the development of electronic communication networks and service operators invested 51 million euros, which contributed to the further increase in the availability of modern, high-quality services throughout the country.
EKIP says that in the electronic communications sector, lack of investment is not acceptable because it will have a negative impact on business in the future.
– Frequent changes and technological innovations impose the need to invest in research and development of infrastructure and the introduction of new technologies. The operators are aware of this, so they are committed to investments whose level in recent years makes us more than satisfied – EKIP representatives pointed out.
They explained that in recent years, operators have invested the most in mobile telephony and internet services, and last year the most was invested in the distribution of audio-visual content.
They reminded that last year, in March, Crnogorski Telekom was the first operator to put the 5G NR network into commercial operation, and that this signal is already available to 70 percent of the population. Apart from Crnogorski Telekom, the operator One also put 5G NR into commercial operation.
5G
The Agency reminded that the first phase of spectrum allocation for the introduction of 5G was successfully completed with the allocation of approvals from the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands at the beginning of last year. The second phase included the allocation of radio frequencies from the so-called pioneering 5G bands (700 MHz, 3.6 GHz and 26 GHz), which started on December 20 and ended on December 27 last year, so EKIP will issue approvals for the use of those radio frequencies in the first quarter of 2023.
The Agency states that, as In previous auctions, a series of requirements have been prescribed regarding the scope, dynamics of coverage and development of the 5G network with control points, which will be controlled at the end of 2024, 2026 and 2030, and which are part of the Digital Transformation Strategy , passed in 2021.
– EKIP will continuously control and monitor the activities of operators on the way to fulfilling the prescribed requirements, and in accordance with national regulations, contribute to the removal of possible barriers – said EKIP and reminded that the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism is working on a strategy for the development of 5G mobile networks.
– Adopting this strategic document, in addition to those already adopted by the Government with implementation action plans until 2026/2027. Year, and with the harmonization of the existing regulatory framework of electronic communications with the European Code of Electronic Communications, the conditions for the further accelerated development of electronic communications, including the development of 5G networks, which are recognized as one of the most important drivers of the overall development of the economy and society, will be improved – it was ordered from The crew.
At the end of October 2022, 1.32 million mobile connections were registered, which is 6.5 percent more on an annual basis. The total number of fixed telephony connections was 190,296, which is an increase of 0.17 percent. Internet access services at a fixed location in 2022 were provided by 12 operators. The total number of broadband connections was 194,720, which is an increase of 3.36 percent.
– Operators in Montenegro offer the service of mobile Internet access with speeds that are comparable to access in fixed networks. 656,641 users accessed the Internet via mobile networks in October 2022. This number is 12.9 percent higher compared to the same period last year – EKIP said.
Users satisfied with quality and prices
EKIP points out that the research results show a high degree of use and a high level of satisfaction with the quality and prices of electronic communication services. – The general level of user satisfaction with quality ranges from 78.5 percent to 84 percent, and with prices from 61.9 percent to 71.7 percent, depending on the service.
– And these statistical indicators indicate the continuous development of technologies and the availability of the most modern services and their use by the citizens of Montenegro, regardless of their geographical location, age, gender – it was announced from EKIP.
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