Skopje, 3 October 2024 (MIA) - Before we move to more radical measures, I publicly urge the two operators, who are not reducing their prices nor improving their services, to respect the law and sign contracts compensating the national TV channels that they air through cable television, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski at a press conference Monday.

“The two current mobile network operators, as well as the cable TV operators, must respect the law. At this moment, I believe the law isn’t being respected. What I can do and what I am doing currently is to urge them to respect the law and I hope we will do this in good faith with the goal of ensuring the best possible cooperation with the national televisions. I think no one would want to see bad scenarios where we would move ahead with fines or compulsion..., but every patience has a limit and I think this must be concluded in the coming weeks – they will either respect the laws, or, measures will be taken,” the Minister stressed. 

Nikoloski said if the two operators start competing with each other in terms of services and prices, there would be no room for a third operator.

“We are asking for the law to be respected. Additionally, there has been a lot of talk about a third mobile network operator. Whether this will happen depends exclusively on the two existing mobile operators. If they start to compete with each other with their services and prices, then I think there would be no room for a third operator. If they continue to act as a duopoly, to hike their prices, to worsen their services, then there would be a lot of room for a third operator. Our goal is for the citizens, enterprises and institutions to receive cheaper services,” Nikoloski said. 

Photo: MIA Archive/screenshot