Pristina, November 26, 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, attended the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications of Kosovo (RAEPC), alongside the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Saranda Bogujevci, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, and the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli.
In his address to the attendees, the Prime Minister highlighted that this is a day to reflect on RAEPC’s journey and to celebrate the successes achieved in advancing the field of electronic communications and postal services regulated by this authority.
“Today, Kosovo is one of the leaders in the region in broadband Internet services, including mobile telephony, specifically 4G and 5G, as well as fixed locations, such as households and businesses. Postal services in Kosovo have experienced significant development, marked by speed, accessibility, and quality,” he emphasized.
The Prime Minister also stated that the RAEPC has played a key role in transforming electronic and postal communications in our country. On this occasion, he pointed out some of the most notable achievements of recent years.
“With the recovery of the public operator and special attention to implementing secure technologies originating from friendly countries, as a Government, we have provided clear and positive signals to this sector. Both mobile telephony operators are expanding their 5G network coverage, including the northern part of our country. Together, with their services, they will benefit the public, citizens, businesses, and institutions of Kosovo,” added the Prime Minister, noting that Kosovo has the highest percentage of network penetration and Internet services in households and businesses.
At the conclusion of his speech, the Prime Minister thanked all those who have contributed to this journey, from the RAEPC team to the tireless professionals, officials, administration, the Ministry of Economy, and our development partners. “Thanks to your passionate vision and relentless work, today we can say that Kosovo is becoming a success story in the sector of electronic and postal communications,” he concluded.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech:
Honorable Ms. Saranda Bogujevci, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honorable First Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development, and Dialogue, Besnik Bislimi,
Honorable Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli,
Distinguished members of the Board of the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications,
Incoming Chair of BEREC, Mr. Mišmaš,
Distinguished representatives of regional regulators, Mr. Bako from RAEPC in Albania, Mr. Akiku from AEK in North Macedonia, Mr. Darko Grgurovic from EKIP in Montenegro,
Honorable members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honorable Deputy Ministers,
Distinguished operators of electronic communication and postal services networks,
Representatives and leaders of state institutions and public enterprises,
Distinguished attendees,
Ladies and gentleman,
We have gathered here to mark an important milestone—the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications of Kosovo (RAEPC). This is a day to reflect on ARKEP’s journey and to celebrate the successes achieved in advancing electronic communications and postal services.
RAEPC has played a key role in transforming electronic and postal communications in our country, and therefore, let us pause to acknowledge and appreciate these remarkable achievements, particularly in recent years.
Today, Kosovo is one of the leaders in the region in broadband Internet services, including mobile telephony, specifically 4G and 5G, as well as fixed locations, such as households and businesses. Postal services in Kosovo have experienced significant development, marked by speed, accessibility and quality.
Through the allocation of appropriate frequency resources by ARKEP and the Government’s policies, pathways have been opened for the rapid development of 5G services in our country. On a regional scale, Kosovo boasts the highest percentage of network coverage and penetration of internet services in households and businesses.
With the recovery of the public operator and special attention to implementing secure technologies originating from friendly countries, as a Government, we have provided clear and positive signals to this sector. Both mobile telephony operators are expanding their 5G network coverage, including the northern part of our country. Both operators, along with their services, will benefit the public, citizens, businesses and institutions of Kosovo.
With the dedication of our institutions, private initiatives, and the support of partners – particularly the “CODE” project of the World Bank – Kosovo today boasts internet coverage of over 99.8%. This is among the highest coverage rates in Europe and a clear testament to our commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in our journey of digital transformation.
As a result of this progress, Kosovo is now entering the global map of internet services. Last month, ARKEP granted authorization for the global satellite internet provider StarLink to offer its services in our country.
We will continue to support the development of these two sectors in our country, based on the principle of territorial integrity and for the benefit of businesses, institutions, and every citizen without distinction. In this path of development, we will no longer accept conditions or dependencies from the monopolies of the past or from state-owned entities originating in non-friendly countries.
Electronic communications and postal services are the right of every citizen and a business opportunity for our knowledgeable and proven companies and private investors.
A significant recent development is the expansion of mobile operators’ networks and postal services in the northern part of the Republic of Kosovo. The quality and availability of services in this part of our country, which for over 20 years suffered both from the lack of law and order and from limited opportunities in the field of electronic and postal communications, have significantly improved.
In 2022, with the support of the Ministry of Economy, RAEPC implemented the National Frequency Spectrum Monitoring System (NFMS). This vital system ensures 24/7 supervision of frequencies across the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo and contributes to our country’s national security.
Under the motto “Consumer at the Center,” RAEPC has taken concrete steps to strengthen consumer rights by creating a dedicated department specifically for this purpose. From citizen information to the quality of internet access services and calls, RAEPC is committed to improving the user experience.
The sectors and markets regulated by RAEPC undoubtedly face challenges of high complexity, as well as inherited difficulties. The first are similar to those in most countries around the globe, while the latter stem from various internal factors within our context. Each of these issues requires responses and solutions without hesitation or delay.
From the global Covid-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine and the hybrid warfare originating from the Russian Federation, it has become clear to all of us that the electronic communications sector has turned into a domain where the brilliant achievements of human society are being misused to unfairly attack democratic states, communities and groups of citizens and political entities by structures of authoritarian states.
The media platforms were also affected by the same issue. Today, more than ever, increased collaboration is expected between RAEPC, the Independent Media Commission and security institutions to protect many aspects of our country. This cooperation should focus on safeguarding citizens and frequently, the state and its security. These functions in our state are carried out specifically by these institutions alone, and as such, it is required that everyone ensures they fulfill their duties to the fullest.
Each regulator is also expected to create synergy with other regulators to enhance the level of oversight and regulation across sectors, as well as to establish protections against unfair competition that harms honest businesses and the citizens of the Republic.
Under our current circumstances, creating this synergy is more necessary than ever. The Government and its law enforcement agencies will stand by your side and support you within their respective roles. However, you are the leaders, and it is expected that you help and protect not only the citizens but also the state and fair, free competition in your sector.
This intensive collaboration should specifically be extended and strengthened in two directions. First, to fully create the conditions for sectors to deliver services that provide added value, inclusive coverage, and simultaneously maintain quality and fairness. And secondly, to establish the coordinates for the future of this sector, which must begin to be addressed as soon as possible.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all those who have contributed over these two decades, the RAEPC team, tireless professionals, officials, administrators, the Ministry of Economy and our development partners. Thanks to your passionate vision and relentless work, today we can say that Kosovo is becoming a success story in the sector of electronic and postal communications.
Congratulations on the 20th anniversary, and I wish you further achievements, new and ongoing, for many years and decades to come. Thank you.
Last modified: December 2, 2024