Is the creation of the largest mobile operator in the Balkans about to be announced?
If local news reports are correct, Serbia Telekom, Serbia's largest mobile network operator, has made a bid for Telekom Albania, a major player in its own market. However, neither company has officially commented on the proposed deal, which would create the region's biggest telecommunications service provider.
The deal would extend Serbia Telekom’s reach into yet another regional market, to accompany Montenegro and Bosnia, where it already has a presence.
Telekom Albania enjoys a 39 per cent stake in Albania's telecommunications market, boasting over 5 million subscribers. This is a penetration rate of nearly 200 per cent, which clearly implies a lot of multiple device or multiple SIM users. The active user base is about 3.2 million, which would be equivalent to the overall population estimate.
Despite this relatively strong position in the market, Telekom Albania’s revenues fell to 68.1 million euros in 2017, down from 77.2 million euros in 2016.
