The Director General of Telekom Srbija, Vladimir Lučić, stated that by the end of November, he expects to sign an arrangement with the US Exim Bank for the financing of Serbia’s 5G network, noting that the loan will come with more favourable conditions than those available from commercial banks.
Speaking as a guest on Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS), he said this would be the first agreement signed by a European telecommunications operator with an American financial institution, and the second such agreement in the world.
“This means direct support from the US government and its institutions for the development of the 5G network. We already use a number of American products in our system, from IBM to Microsoft. Exim Bank will essentially provide an exceptionally favourable loan, far better than commercial ones,” said Lučić.
According to him, both European and American financial institutions are ready to help Telekom develop the 5G network, with the goal of making it operational in December.
The company’s general director explained that the basic infrastructure has already been put in place, allowing users in major cities to see 5G service immediately once the licence is granted. “We are now launching a tender for additional base stations that will be installed. Within the first two years, we will cover a significant part of Serbia with the 5G network. The goal is for the entire country to be fully covered by the end of 2027,” said Lučić.
Speaking about Telekom’s operations in Kosovo, Lučić added that the company has initiated the process of obtaining a third mobile telephony licence, for which it expects strong support from the United States.
“Although we had excellent relations with the previous administration, two years ago, the key contribution of the US ambassadors in Pristina and Belgrade was preventing (Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin) Kurti from shutting down MTS. We provided well-founded arguments explaining why that point of the Brussels Agreement must be respected and why MTS should be granted a third licence,” said Lučić.
He also added that the local subsidiary provides internet, fixed-line, mobile, and television services to 30,000 households.
“We have pointed out to the US administration that before Kurti’s government, we had no problems, and that previous administrations even showed understanding towards our company. I hope that, in the formation of the new government, Kurti’s administration will no longer be as dominant, because it clearly has no understanding nor willingness to approach the Serbian people. Its goal is the displacement of the Serbian population. It seems to me that, especially within the US administration, the awareness of the harmfulness of Kurti’s actions is becoming increasingly clear,” Lučić concluded.
Source: https://www.serbianmonitor.com/en/5g-network-in-serbia-to-become-operational-in-december/
