After June, old phone codes in Kosovo no longer apply

On the list of state codes now on the Viber app, which serves for free phone calls and messages via the internet, Kosovo can also be found with +383 phone code.

Implementation of this code from online technology is considered an important step towards full implementation of the +383 telephone code, which is expected to eventually be functional on June 30th of this year.

The chairman of the Board of Electronic and Post Communications Authority (ARKEP), Kreshnik Gashi, told Radio Free Europe that the use of the Kosovo state code applications is being done under implementation, as well as under the international opinion notification for use of the +383 code.

The “is required to be used by all operators worldwide after the transition phase is passed that is envisioned by the end of June, access the function and use only +383 code. The use of the code from apps started earlier, but recently was made by the Viber app, for which ARKEP has been in contact with the service of this app to speed up this process”, Gashi says.

Changes that have recently taken place with the app in Viber, Gashi adds, are expected to occur with all other apps. According to him, so far this has been done with many applications used on social networks, either apps used by various airports around the world.

Kosovo's state phone code was divided in December 2016 by the International Telekomunication Union (ITU). This code was the result of talks in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia delegations, with the European Union's mediation.

Agron Dida, an expert on telecommunication issues, tells Radio Free Europe that efforts must be made by competent authorities so that the state code can recognise other communication services as well.

Now not only the operator Vala and IPKO, but even Internet services like Viber, have recognised the +383 code and this is a very important step in the telecommunications field. Let's wait for Google to do that, because it's a powerful international telecommunications system”, says Dida.

The use of international foreign codes, Dida adds, has been a major obstacle to the telecommunications field. Kosovo's telephone code, according to him, will bring great economic benefits and quality and cheaper services to consumers.

Besides spending, it has been a major obstacle in every respect. We had to identify ourselves with a number of Monaco or Slovenia, so there could be no banking transactions. It has been a situation that has also burdened businesses and banking systems and communications in general, as well as the implementation of various projects with powerful communication systems”, says Dida.

Currently, in Kosovo three mobile and fixed phone operators operate, which use international foreign codes. Mobile phone “Vala” uses Monaco's code (+377), IPKO's Slovenia Code (+386), while fixed phone uses Serbia's code (+381).

Meanwhile, as far as fixed phone calls are concerned, entry and exit calls are already realised with the +383 code, and according to Kreshnik Gashi, Serbia's +381 code could leave before June.

“Codi +381 is only being used because of the failure to lose any eventual call, which is expected to be shut down by June 30th, but according to information we have from phone operators, this could happen even earlier, since only +383 is being used to access and exit”, says Gashi.

Total costs caused by the lack of the telephone code have reached over 200m euros.