New licences for telephone landlines?

It’s been announced that new landline telephone licenses are due in 2008, after SBB applied to become the license-holder. Telecommunications and Information Society Minister Aleksandra Smiljanic says that the landline license will be awarded via a tender. New licences for telephone landlines? Telekom Srbija currently has a monopoly over landlines. Smiljanic said that the Ministry had still not received Serbia BroadBand’s (SBB) application, but had been informed of the move through the media. "The Ministry is looking to introduce competition, but at the same time we need to be mindful of offering a universal service, so that all citizens can have access to basic telephone services at affordable prices," said the minister at a press conference to mark 100 days of the new government. Competition in the field of landline telephones was permitted under the Law on Telecommunication two years ago, but for such licenses to be awarded, the Ministry needs to announce a tender and set the minimum conditions that operators have to meet to perform such a job. However, the ministry feels that companies are above all interested in offering a profitable service, which poses a threat to Telekom Srbije. There is a danger of cable operator SBB becoming the budget alternative, thus preventing Telekom from covering the costs of offering non-profit services, she said, adding that that was why a market analysis was under way. Smiljanic said that she was aware of requests coming from companies to introduce internet telephone communication (VolP), which will become possible when the Republic Agency for Telecommunication (Ratel) completes its rulebook for the sector. This is currently still being drawn up. Deputy Telecommunications Minister Slobodan Laketa said that new landline licenses would not be issued by the end of the year, although new landline operators could expect them in 2008. He said that SBB, as a cable and internet operator, already had a network via which it could very soon offer telephone services, although first of all it was necessary to form a fund for universal services. Laketa added that plans for frequency distribution were currently under examination that would allow the development of a cordless landline service, otherwise known as WiMax technology.

New licences for telephone landlines?

Telekom Srbija currently has a monopoly over landlines. Smiljanić said that the Ministry had still not received Serbia BroadBand’s (SBB) application, but had been informed of the move through the media.

"The Ministry is looking to introduce competition, but at the same time we need to be mindful of offering a universal service, so that all citizens can have access to basic telephone services at affordable prices," said the minister at a press conference to mark 100 days of the new government.

Competition in the field of landline telephones was permitted under the Law on Telecommunication two years ago, but for such licenses to be awarded, the Ministry needs to announce a tender and set the minimum conditions that operators have to meet to perform such a job.

However, the ministry feels that companies are above all interested in offering a profitable service, which poses a threat to Telekom Srbije.

There is a danger of cable operator SBB becoming the budget alternative, thus preventing Telekom from covering the costs of offering non-profit services, she said, adding that that was why a market analysis was under way.

Smiljanić said that she was aware of requests coming from companies to introduce internet telephone communication (VolP), which will become possible when the Republic Agency for Telecommunication (Ratel) completes its rulebook for the sector. This is currently still being drawn up.

Deputy Telecommunications Minister Slobodan Laketa said that new landline licenses would not be issued by the end of the year, although new landline operators could expect them in 2008.

He said that SBB, as a cable and internet operator, already had a network via which it could very soon offer telephone services, although first of all it was necessary to form a fund for universal services.

Laketa added that plans for frequency distribution were currently under examination that would allow the development of a cordless landline service, otherwise known as WiMax technology.