In August this year, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the RS requested from the Ministry of Transport and Communications of BiH to define certain provisions of the Decision on Permits for the Use of Broadband Range for Provision of Services through Mobile Access Systems, and thus it is already clear that 4G network will not be introduced by the end of the year.
“We consider the continuation of these activities on the introduction of new technologies and further development of this area in accordance with the applicable legal regulations as necessary, with clearly defined conditions, priorities and parameters and by respecting the constitutional provisions of this entity,” as noted from the Ministry of Transport and Communications of RS.
In the Ministry of Transport and Communications of BiH stated that after the completed opinions, the Regulatory Agency of Communications (RAK) will elaborate the text of the Decision on Permits for the Use of Broadcast Range for Provision of Services through Mobile Access Systems and submit it to the Council of Ministers of BiH on further adoption.
Experts who are familiar with the entire process of introducing the 4G network in BiH stated that it is almost impossible to complete everything by the end of the year and that even if the administration does its part of the job, which is highly unlikely, telecoms operators will need months to install all the required equipment and put this network into operation.
However, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of BiH noted that the Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Information on the Status of the Introduction of 4G Network as well as a conclusion in which all competent institutions were invited to take all the necessary activities to create the preconditions for the commercial use of the mobile network of the fourth generation in BiH as soon as possible.
The introduction of 4G networks in BiH may once again be postponed. According to a report in daily Nezavisne Novine, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will not give a positive opinion on the proposal before the government. The reason is the very low license fee, which according to the initial proposal is up to 200 times lower than in other countries in the region.
The telecom regulator RAK said it is ready to issue the licences, once the government gives its approval. It will issue licenses for the 4G network within 30 days to the existing operators m:tel, BH Telecom and HT Eronet.
