Regarding the meeting with the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Kosovo
“On the Implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Establishment of the 5G Digital Corridor and Facilitation of Movement in the Future”
On 28.10.2021, a meeting among the representatives of the said Ministry was held in the premises of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Kosovo: Mr. Agim Kukaj, Department of Post-Telecommunications and Information Technology Department Director and Ms. Fjolla Restelica, Head of Project Implementation Unit (PIU) at KODE Project, representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy of the Republic of Albania: Ms. Eriola Muka, General Director of the Department of Infrastructure and Territory Policy and Development, Ms. Irena Malolli, Director of Telecommunications and Post Strategy Development, as well as representatives from the Regulatory Authorities, ARKEP and AKEP.
The representatives of AKEP in this meeting were Mr. Jetmir Braha, Director of the Authorization Directorate, and Mr. Vasil Mitezi, Director of the Control, Monitoring and Inspection Directorate.
The representatives of ARKEP were Mr. Visar Halimi, Chief of Frequency Management Department, and Mr. Ilir Imeri, Chief of Electronic Communications Department.
The meeting was held according to the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Establishment of the 5G Digital Corridor and Facilitation of Movement in the Future, signed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Economy and Environment of the Republic of Kosovo, in the governmental meeting between Albania and Kosovo held in Tirana on 02.10.2020.
During the meeting, the necessity to further the cooperation between the two countries was emphasized, to be achieved through the drafting of policies and programs for 5G network development, the establishment of standards on secure networks and mobility based on EU good practices, and international commitments to clean networks.
The cooperation in this area is based on contemporary technological advancements and the commitments undertaken upon adoption of the Western Balkans Regional Plan, in the joint statement of the Western Balkans Prime Ministers in the Sofia Summit on 17 May 2018, as well as the European Union initiatives for “5G Corridors and Automated Driving Cars”.
On this basis and the development perspective, it has been agreed to further the work to establish the 5G Prishtina – Tirana digital corridor and facilitate movement in the future.
In this meeting, the detailed Memorandum of Cooperation’s issues were discussed, and deadlines for each issue were set.
During the meeting, representatives from the Regulatory Authorities discussed the current status of 5G frequencies (700 MHz, 3400-3800 MHz, and 26 GHz), the release of the 700 MHz spectrum in both countries, the need to begin cross-border coordination for 5G frequencies, the identification and establishment of secure network standards, and other issues.
In this meeting, it was agreed to take a coordinated approach regarding the harmonization of the 5G frequency spectrum, and parties should cooperate for the establishment of pioneer bands for 5G, pursuant to the European practice, within 2021, but no later than 30 June 2022.
