Post and Telecom of Kosovo (PTK) has announced the winner to advance its platform of mobile operator VALA in its third and fourth generation (3G and 4G/LTE).
Alcatel-Lucent Deutschland AG & Cacttus Sh.A. have been awarded the contract for the introduction of 3G for a total amount of about EUR 28 million. Motorola Solutions/Networks Oy will at the same time introduce 4G/LTE for a total amount of EUR 4 million.
Through this investment VALA intends to improve its market position in Kosovo by offering its customers high quality Internet and mobile services.
Kosovo’s second service mobile operator IPKO and main competitor to VALA has already introduced 3G in late 2013 and has been benefiting ever since from increased numbers of clients due to the improved market position.
PTK, on the other hand, was not ready to start with the 3G since the company was in the process of privatization. This process has however been stopped in December 2013 due to a failure of the Government of Kosovo to sell VALA to a German investment group.
The process of introduction of 3G/4G/LTE has faced criticism and complaints of various operators, who say that PTK’s decision to award the contract based on a negotiated procedure was harming free competition.
ECIKS