The Government is determined to bring third mobile operator
About fifty working days remain to the Macedonian Government to announce a tender for third mobile operator on Macedonian telecommunication market. In the Ministry of Transport and Communications are firmed that this obligation from the election campaign will be implemented. They say that Macedonia needs liberalisation of the telecommunication market and add that most of the European countries, apart from Malta and Cyprus, have more than three mobile operators.
Recently, the public was confused after the Government’s announcement that there will be a tender for the companies interested in entering the mobile telephony market. In the Agency for Electronic Communications interpreted that, according to the Law on Electronic Communications, a public call is needed only if several companies request approval for using radiofrequencies for mobile telephony service. They added that the law predicts the subject interested in providing mobile telephony service to notify itself in the Agency first. Afterwards, it should submit request for using radiofrequencies. The Agency informed that they have not received a single request for using radiofrequencies for public mobile telephony service.
Asked who will govern the process for attracting third mobile operator officials in the Ministry of Transport and Communications said that the two bodies will jointly govern the project according to the law. Rubincho Zarevski, T-Mobile ’s chief executive director said for Vreme that Macedonian market is relatively small and that it is already overwhelmed. He thinks that the companies interested in entering the mobile telephony market should very well plan the investment. He added that about 64% of the market has already been taken and the potential investor should wait for at least 15 years for return of the investment.
Vladimir Nikoloski
Source: Vreme (11.9.2006 г.)
