Serbia Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: December 2023

Report Pages: 163

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Serbia sees progress towards 5G auctions

Serbia’s telecom industry has been liberalised in line with the principles of the EU’s regulatory framework for communications, focussed on encouraging competition in telecom products and services, and ensuring universal access.

Considerable network investment has been undertaken in Serbia by incumbent and alternative operators in recent years, despite economic difficulties. This has helped to stimulate internet usage, which has also been bolstered by improved affordability as prices are reduced through competition. The pandemic has stimulated consumer take up of services, particularly mobile data. The government’s various initiatives to improve rural broadband availability have also been supported by European development loans.

Serbia’s high mobile penetration, partly the result of multiple SIM card use, has weighed on revenue growth in recent years, placing further pressure on operators to develop business models which encourage consumer use of mobile data services also in response to the continued substitution of fixed-line for mobile voice calls.

The regulator has yet to auction 5G-suitable frequencies, though operators are already investing in their networks in preparation for this next growth frontier. During 2021 the regulator resumed the process towards a 5G spectrum auction, which had been delayed owing to the onset of the covid-19 pandemic.

In early 2021 Telekom Srbija agreed to provide Telenor Serbia with access to its fibre network. Despite accusations from United Group, which owns the principal cable broadband player SBB, that the deal could undermine SBB’s market position, the Group has also agreed to share network assets. Telenor (now operating as Yettel, and owned by the PPF Group), joined the fixed market in November 2021, launching fibre-based fixed broadband, fixed voice, and digital TV services. The operator is looking to bolster its returns by focussing more strongly on the uptake of converged services in the market. These developments could lead to a significant shift in the telecom market landscape.

The outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 had an immediate impact on telecoms services uptake. However, the sector has returned to growth buoyed by an improving economic outlook for the country and rising consumer and enterprise demand for advanced communications services. The crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, has helped to offset pressures on market development.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

MTS trials 5G services with Ericsson, Yettel selects Huawei;
Telekom Srbija agrees to buy Posta NET;
PPF Group rebrands Telenor Serbia to Yettel;
Regulator invites expressions of interest for delayed spectrum auction;
SBB commits €240 million to fixed broadband network investment over three years;
European Investment Bank to lend Telekom Srbija €70 million to finance 5G, LTE and fibre network expansions;
A1 selects Nokia for countrywide 5G network expansion;
Report update includes the regulator’s annual reports, market data report to March 2022, telcos’ operating and financial data to Q1 2022, updated telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Mobilna Telefonija Srbija (MTS), Telekom Srbija, Vip Mobile, Telenor Serbia, Serbia Broadband (SBB), I.KOM, Knight Development Support, Invest-Inženjering, Beogrid, JET TV, Kopernikus Technology, BeotelNet, Posta NET, Sat Trakt, Telemark and Radijus vektor.

Key statistics
Regional Europe Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Law on Electronic Communications

Amendments

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Telecom sector liberalisation
Privatisation
Interconnect
Universal service
Number Portability (NP)

Mobile network developments

Third mobile licence
700MHz
1800MHz auction
800MHz auction
2.5GHz/3.6GHz
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Roaming
Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile data

Short Message Service (SMS)/Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)

Mobile broadband
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
Other infrastructure developments

Major mobile operators

Yettel
Mobilna Telefonija Srbija (MTS)
Vip Mobile
Mobile Virtual Network operators (MVNOs)

Mobile content and applications

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview
Broadband statistics
Fixed-line broadband technologies

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services
WiMAX
W-Fi

Fixed network operators

Telekom Srbija

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
International infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Serbia – 2022 (e)
Table 2 – Share of telecom investment by service – 2012 – 2020
Table 3 – Share of telecom revenue by service – 2012 – 2020
Table 4 – Decline in the number of annual fixed number portings – 2014 – 2022
Table 5 – Average mobile number portings per month – 2012 – 2022
Table 6 – Annual and cumulative mobile number portings – 2012 – 2022
Table 7 – Change in roaming voice traffic – 2012 – 2020
Table 8 – Change in roaming voice revenue – 2013 – 2020
Table 9 – Mobile base stations in service by MNO – 2017 – 2020
Table 10 – Growth in mobile market revenue – 2012 – 2020
Table 11 – Change in revenue market share by operator – 2012 – 2020
Table 12 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 13 – Growth in outgoing mobile traffic – 2012 – 2022
Table 14 – Change in mobile operator market share by subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Table 15 – Prepaid subscribers and proportion of total mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Table 16 – Change in the number of Yettel’s prepaid subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 17 – Change in the number of MTS’s prepaid subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Table 18 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2012 – 2022
Table 19 – Change in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2022
Table 20 – Change in MMS traffic – 2012 – 2020
Table 21 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 22 – Mobile base stations installed by operator – 2020
Table 23 – Growth in the number of M2M connections – 2014 – 2022
Table 24 – Change in the number of Yettel’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 25 – Development of Yettel’s financial data (€ million) – 2018 – 2021
Table 26 – Change in Yettel’s mobile ARPU (€/user/month) – 2018 – 2021
Table 27 – Change in the number of MTS’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2020
Table 28 – Development of Vip Mobile’s revenue and EBITDA (€ million) – 2012 – 2022
Table 29 – Development of Vip Mobile’s operating income and capex (€ million) – 2012 – 2022
Table 30 – Development of Vip Mobile’s financial data by quarter (€ million) – 2016 – 2022
Table 31 – Increase in the number of Vip Mobile’s subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Table 32 – Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2022
Table 33 – Change in the fixed broadband market share by platform – 2015 – 2022
Table 34 – Fixed broadband market share by access speed – 2016 – 2022
Table 35 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 36 – Development of Telekom Srbija’s DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Table 37 – Development of Telekom Srbija Group financial data (RSD billion) – 2012 – 2020
Table 38 – Change in Telekom Srbija Group revenue by service (RSD billion) – 2014 – 2020
Table 39 – Development of Telekom Srbija financial data (RSD billion) – 2012 – 2020
Table 40 – Development of Telekom Srbija revenue by service (RSD billion) – 2014 – 2020
Table 41 – Decline in Telekom Srbija Group fixed voice subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Table 42 – Change in the number of Telekom Srbija’s subscribers by sector (thousand) – 2012 – 2020
Table 43 – Growth in Telekom Srbija Group investment – 2013 – 2020
Table 44 – Change in Telekom Srbija investments by segment (RSD billion) – 2012 – 2020
Table 45 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 46 – Decline in fixed line voice traffic – 2012 – 2022
Table 47 – International internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2020
Table 48 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1998 – 2011
Table 49 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2004 – 2011
Table 50 – Historic - Development of Telekom Srbija Group financial data (RSD billion) – 2007 – 2011
Table 51 – Historic - Telenor prepaid users – 2007 – 2011
Table 52 – Historic - Telenor Serbia’s mobile financial data (NOK million) – 2007 – 2018
Table 53 – Historic - Vip Mobile revenue and EBITDA (€ million) – 2007 – 2011
Table 54 – Historic - Vip Mobile operating income and capex (€ million) – 2007 – 2011
Table 55 – Historic - Vip Mobile subscribers – 2007 – 2011
Table 56 – Historic - Telenor Serbia mobile subscribers – 2006 – 2011
Table 57 – Historic- Vip Mobile financial data by quarter (€ million) – 2007 – 2011
Table 58 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2005 – 2011

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Europe - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Europe – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – Scandinavia/Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Share of telecom investment by service – 2012 – 2020
Chart 11 – Share of telecom revenue by service – 2012 – 2020
Chart 12 – Decline in the number of annual fixed number portings – 2014 – 2022
Chart 13 – Average mobile number portings per month – 2012 – 2022
Chart 14 – Annual and cumulative mobile number portings – 2012 – 2022
Chart 15 – Change in roaming voice traffic – 2012 – 2020
Chart 16 – Change in roaming voice revenue – 2013 – 2020
Chart 17 – Mobile base stations in service by MNO – 2017 – 2020
Chart 18 – Growth in mobile market revenue – 2012 – 2020
Chart 19 – Change in revenue market share by operator – 2012 – 2020
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 21 – Growth in outgoing mobile traffic – 2012 – 2022
Chart 22 – Change in mobile operator market share by subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Chart 23 – Prepaid subscribers and proportion of total mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Chart 24 – Change in the number of Yettel’s prepaid subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 25 – Change in the number of MTS’s prepaid subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Chart 26 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2012 – 2022
Chart 27 – Change in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2022
Chart 28 – Change in MMS traffic – 2012 – 2020
Chart 29 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 30 – Growth in the number of M2M connections – 2014 – 2022
Chart 31 – Change in the number of Yettel’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 32 – Development of Yettel’s financial data – 2018 – 2021
Chart 33 – Change in Yettel’s mobile ARPU – 2018 – 2021
Chart 34 – Change in the number of MTS’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Chart 35 – Development of Vip Mobile’s revenue and EBITDA – 2012 – 2022
Chart 36 – Development of Vip Mobile’s operating income and capex – 2012 – 2022
Chart 37 – Development of Vip Mobile’s financial data by quarter – 2016 – 2022
Chart 38 – Increase in the number of Vip Mobile’s subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Chart 39 – Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2022
Chart 40 – Change in the fixed broadband market share by platform – 2015 – 2022
Chart 41 – Fixed broadband market share by access speed – 2016 – 2022
Chart 42 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 43 – Development of Telekom Srbija’s DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Chart 44 – Development of Telekom Srbija Group financial data – 2012 – 2020
Chart 45 – Change in Telekom Srbija Group revenue by service – 2014 – 2020
Chart 46 – Development of Telekom Srbija financial data – 2012 – 2020
Chart 47 – Development of Telekom Srbija revenue by service – 2014 – 2020
Chart 48 – Decline in Telekom Srbija Group fixed voice subscribers – 2012 – 2020
Chart 49 – Change in the number of Telekom Srbija subscribers by sector – 2012 – 2020
Chart 50 – Growth in Telekom Srbija Group investment – 2013 – 2020
Chart 51 – Change in Telekom Srbija investments by segment – 2012 – 2020
Chart 52 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Chart 53 – Decline in fixed line voice traffic – 2012 – 2022
Chart 54 – International internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2020

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Europe
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Europe – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Europe – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Europe – Market Emergents and market developments

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Serbia Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Serbia sees progress towards 5G auctions

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Europe Market Comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views