Skopje, 23 January 2026 (MIA) - One Macedonia received Friday a license for 5G radio frequency spectrum from the Agency for Electronic Communications (AEC) and will officially operate as the third mobile operator in the country. Initially, it will begin operating in the territory of Skopje, using the networks of the existing two operators until it builds its own.

AEC head Jeton Akiku handed the licenses to the Chairman of the Board of Directors at One Macedonia Telecommunications and head of strategies at Hungary's 4iG Group, Pál Zarándy, the CEO of One Macedonia, Brano Djurovic, and the Deputy CEO, Gabor Altmann.

“I expect a serious market share. With the implemented transparent and structured tender process a clear signal is being sent that Macedonia is committed to fair competition, long-term investments and the development of a reliable digital infrastructure,” Zarándy said.

Zarándy said the company will eventually have its own autonomous network and won’t be dependant on others, to that end, the company will engage experts to conduct market research on how to best position itself.

“Being fully independent takes time and that’s why we will use the network of our competitors for the so-called national roaming. We will initially launch the network in Skopje, and later across the entire territory of Macedonia,” said Zarándy, announcing that they will have an agreement with Ericsson and will adhere to the country’s laws on using a secure network. 

Igor Bojadziev, representative of the Agency for Electronic Communications, said One Macedonia on January 14 paid a one-time fee in the amount of EUR 8.020.003, thereby fulfilling all the conditions to obtain the licenses.

The new operator must cover one city with 5G by the end of March 2027, as well as the main corridors in the country by the end of 2028. By the end of 2030, all cities in the country must be covered. And by the end of 2032, the operator is expected to ensure that every citizen has access to the internet via 5G with a minimum internet access speed of at least 100 Mbps.

The process for the introduction of a third mobile network operator began last year, when the 4iG Group, through its subsidiary “One Macedonia Telecommunications,” officially submitted a letter of intent to the Agency for Electronic Communications on December 17, 2024. At the time, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski told journalists that 4iG Group entering the market would mark the end of the duopoly of the two existing mobile operators in the country and lead to lower prices for mobile services.

On April 22, 2025, the Agency for Electronic Communications opened a public consultation, which resulted in letters of interest from One Macedonia Telecommunications, Bitstream Mobile, and e& PPF Telecom Group B.V. On July 19, 2025, the Agency decided to announce a public tender with open bidding for granting licenses to use radio frequencies in the 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 3.x GHz bands.

The Agency said the only qualified bidder in the tender was One Macedonia Telecommunications, and selected it as the most favorable bidder on January 12, 2026.

Photo: MIA