Montenegro’s telecoms regulator EKIP (Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services) has revealed that all of the country’s major operators have snapped up 5G spectrum.
Crnogorski Telekom (CT), MTEL, and One Montenegro all secured spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz bands during the 5G auction held last month, reports Comms Update.
In total, the operators have splashed out a combined $9.4 million during the auction, with CT being the most successful bidder. CT paid $3.29m to secure 2×10MHz in the 700MHz band and a 140MHz block of 3.6GHz frequencies.
Meanwhile, One and MTEL secured 2×10MHz of 700MHz spectrum and 120MHz in the 3.6GHz band, with One bidding $3.15m, and MTEL $2.92m.
However, the regulator did reveal that not all available spectrum was acquired, with the available blocks of unpaired 700MHz band and 26GHz spectrum remaining unallocated with operators showing no interest.
All three operators are obliged to activate 5G in every municipality in Montenegro by the end of 2024 while providing 5G coverage to 50 percent of the nation by 2026.
The trio is also required to provide 5G to all populated places, highways, and main roads by the end of the decade.
Makedonski Telekom makes progress with 5G push
Meanwhile, not too far from Montenegro, Makedonski Telekom has made progress with its own 5G push.
The North Macedonian telco has expanded its 5G footprint to 26 cities, since first launching its 5G network in February of last year.
Its 5G service is available in several cities, including its capital Skopje and the wider area. Other areas include Stip, Veles, Kavadarci, Negotino, Sveti Nikole, Bitola, Prilep, Krushevo, Ohrid, Struga, Resen, Strumica, Radovish, Gevgelija, and Dojran.
Makedonski also revealed that it has installed 900 new NB-IoT (narrowband IoT) enabled base stations for M2M communication in the country, with capacity of the new modernized network up by 70 percent, DCD wrote.
