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The minister in charge of telecommunications, Tatjana Matić, admitted during the first half that the reason for postponing the auction for the allocation of 5G frequencies is the economic crisis, and not the fact that there is no real need of citizens for a such a network, as Prime Minister Ana Brnabić previously stated. Minister Matić says that the industry is the one that currently does not need a 5G network due to the crisis, and that even the operators have no interest in introducing such a network. The minister denied that the reason for the delay was that Telekom Srbija and other operators did not have money to invest in 5G.
As a reason for postponing the 5G network auction, which was scheduled for the end of 2020, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić stated two days ago the following: Citizens of Serbia do not need 5G for their needs.
Minister Tatjana Matić, however, speaks differently to H1 about the reasons for the postponement of the auction.
“We had a plan because there was great interest from both mobile operators and the industry to make it possible. Unfortunately, due to the kovida-19 pandemic, we all know what is happening in economic terms, we are literally witnessing a global economic catastrophe and that interest. meanwhile, was lost, “said Minister Matic.
N1: If there is no interest from the industry or the operators, can we speak of an economic tiger?
Matic: I really don’t think that our economic recovery and next year’s surge will depend on the development of the 5G network, it mainly depends on some other economic parameters.
Academician Zoran Petrović, one of the most cited Serbian scientists, says that the postponement of the 5G network is actually an abandonment of development and that they do not understand the reasons.
“If there are economic reasons, we just don’t have the money, that’s a permanent reason, basically all the government has to do is divide the frequencies and let the providers invest in them or not,” said the academic.
The minister denies that Telekom Srbija’s financial problems are the reason for the postponement of the 5G auctions.
“I don’t think Telecom is in financial trouble, I must remind you that the mobile operators planned this, they had certain funds in their budget, including Telekom Srbija,” says the minister.
N1: What happened after?
Matic: There was a pandemic which, among other things, led to the global economic crisis and the industry at the moment is simply considering the introduction of a 5G network.
When it comes to the interest expressed by SBB in participating in the development of the 5G network, the minister says that all requests are welcome, but more stakeholders are needed.
“Because there is no interest, it is not enough that an operator, who is not a mobile operator, SBB is not a mobile operator. When we talk about spectrum sales, the auction has mainly appeared already known operators, mobile operators that exist and work in “I first heard that SBB is interested and I am happy about that,” says the minister.
N1: By what criteria is the auction postponed and it gives the impression that in this way the State protects those telecommunications companies and investors who do not have the money to develop 5G?
Matic: Your configuration is wrong. The state didn’t really protect anyone regarding the 5G network. The pandemic simply delayed this year’s auction.
Academician Petrović warns that science will pay the price and that it is about giving up development.
“The market will match. When we jumped out of the world market in the 1990s, nobody was expecting us,” Petrovic said.
Estimates by the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Telecommunications are that the state’s revenue from licenses for the 5G network would be 150 million euros, which would almost cover the deficit foreseen in Serbia’s 2021 budget.
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