There doesn’t seem to be any specific rules on infrastructure sharing, apart from current provisions which say operators must negotiate with others
Serbia has formally launched its long-anticipated 5G spectrum auction. The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL) has initiated bidding for licences in six key frequency ranges: 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz.
The auction follows the adoption of a rulebook earlier this year that set minimum conditions for licence issuance, paving the way for the competitive tender. Licences will run until March 2047, with no option for extension. Fees vary by band, ranging from about €7 million for 2100 MHz spectrum up to €35.5 million for the 3400–3800 MHz range, while the minimum cost of a package of frequencies is set at around €100 million. Payments will be made in two instalments: on award of the licence and by mid-2026, according to SeeNews.
Eligibility conditions are designed to ensure only financially robust operators can take part. Bidders must demonstrate at least 1.5 million mobile subscribers as of December 2024 and mobile revenues above €300 million last year. In terms of rollout obligations, successful bidders must install a minimum of 200 5G base stations in the first year – most of them in Belgrade and other major cities – and at least 1,000 across Serbia in the second year.
Further obligations apply in years three to five, including coverage requirements for 22 cities, major transport corridors, and Belgrade’s Expo 2027 site, according to guidance published by Stojković Attorneys.
Industry observers note that the auction is intended to both stimulate competition and deliver rapid deployment ahead of major national events such as Expo 2027 in Belgrade. RATEL director Dragan Pejović told parliament last month that the regulatory process was on track, with licences expected to be issued by the end of 2025 following the completion of consultations.
Full coverage by 2027
Telekom Srbija, the country’s largest operator, has already begun preparing its network with 5G base stations developed alongside Ericsson and Nokia. The operator has said it aims to achieve full 5G coverage by 2027, supported by financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Sweden’s Export Credit Corporation, and the US Exim Bank.
In its submission to RATEL’s consultation on the draft auction documentation, Telekom Srbija welcomed the opening of the process but warned against conditions that might allow inexperienced new entrants to secure licences at the expense of existing operators. The operator argued that newcomers would lack the technical and financial capacity to meet the strict rollout obligations, potentially undermining network stability and jeopardising the quality of mobile services.Â
It pointed out that Serbia already enjoys strong competition among established operators, supported by consumer rights such as mobile number portability, which ensures choice for end users. Telekom Srbija emphasised that excluding any of the current operators from the spectrum allocation would risk disrupting the market and ultimately harm consumers. And it looks like RATEL was listening given the subsequent conditions placed on potential bidders which will also see Yettel and A1 Srbija involved.
