This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 2/26/2019

Overview
Public operator Kosovo Telecom (KT) is characterized with a large number of workers and high wages, years of mismanagement and is in a deep financial crisis.  KT was once the most profitable state owned enterprise and is the major provider of landline services. 

The Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (RAEPC) estimated the total number of fixed and mobile internet users was 1,813,494 in 2017, representing a 100 percent penetration rate – up from the 2015 penetration rate of 58.1 percent.  Three main companies – IPKO, TK, and Kujtesa – provide internet service for about 78.4 percent of Kosovo’s market, while TK and IPKO provide mobile internet (3G and 4G).

Kosovo Telecom offers mobile telephone services through its subsidiary Vala and has over 1,140,000 customers (56.1 percent of the overall market).  Kosovo’s telecommunications sector is one of the least expensive in the region and has similar quality voice services in comparison with other providers in the region.  RAEPC data indicates mobile telephone penetration in Kosovo is over 112 percent, covering over 100 percent of inhabited places and 94 percent of Kosovo’s territory.

In early 2017, a branch of Serbia’s telecom company, MTS, was licensed to provide mobile services in Kosovo.  Two other mobile companies from Serbia – VIP and Telenor – suspended their unlicensed operations in May 2017.

ServicesRevenues in 2014Revenues in 2015Revenues in 2016Revenues
Mobile142.0122.2112.3108.8 
Landline11.410.39.39.5 
ISP19.620.522.527.9 
Infrastructure0.60.60.50.5 
Cable TV18.620.223.822.4 
TOTAL192.2173.8168.4169.1 










Through the auspices of the EU, Kosovo and Serbia have worked with ITU to grant Kosovo a dialing code.  Kosovo began transitioning to the new (383) code in March 2017 and plans to migrate all phone numbers to the dialing code by October 2018.
Unit: millions of U.S. dollars
Data Source: Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications
Leading Sub-Sectors
  • General service mobile (GSM) operator
  • GSM network supplies, equipment, and technology
  • Network management
  • Telecommunications infrastructure development, including WiMax and other municipal wireless internet services.
  • Digitalization of TV broadcasting  

Opportunities

IPKO launched 3G and 4G services in 2014, and Vala launched 4G in 2015.  Both operators are committed to improving their 4G services so there will be opportunities for provision of related infrastructure.  .

Web Resources
Regulatory Authority of Electronic & Postal Communications, www.arkep-rks.org 
Independent Media Comission, http://www.kpm-ks.org/?gjuha=3&mod=ballina
IPKO Telecommunications, LLC, www.ipko.com
Kosovo Telecom, www.kosovotelecom.com/ 
Z-Mobile, http://zmobileonline.com/ 

Web Resources
Regulatory Authority of Electronic & Postal Communications 
Independent Media Comission
IPKO Telecommunications, LLC
Kosovo Telecom 
Z-Mobile 

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