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Serbia vs. Kosovo

Telecommunications

SerbiaKosovo
Telephones - main lines in usetotal subscriptions: 2,565,392

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36.43 (2019 est.)
total subscriptions: 117,317

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6.11 (2019 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellulartotal subscriptions: 8,453,887

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.06 (2019 est.)
total subscriptions: 620,186

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32.3 (2019 est.)
Internet country code.rs.xk

note: assigned as a temporary code under UN Security Council resolution 1244/99
Internet userstotal: 5,192,501

percent of population: 73.36% (July 2018 est.)
total: 1,706,150

percent of population: 89.44% (July 2018 est.)
Telecommunication systemsgeneral assessment:

Serbia's integration with the EU helped regulator reforms and promotion of telecom; EU development loans for broadband to rural areas; pandemic spurred use of mobile data and other services; wireless service is available through multiple providers; national coverage is growing rapidly; best telecom services are centered in urban centers; 4G/LTE mobile network launched; 5G tests ongoing with Ericsson and Huawei (2021)

(2020)

domestic: fixed-line 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular 96 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 381

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

general assessment:

EU pre-accession process supported progress in the telecom industry with a regulatory framework, European standards, and a market of new players encouraging development; two operators dominate the sector; under-developed telecom infrastructure leads to low fixed-line penetration; little expansion of fiber networks for broadband; expansion of LTE services (2020)

(2020)

domestic: fixed-line stands at 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 32 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 383

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Source: CIA Factbook