The overall implementation of the +383 telephone code remains challenging

The Kosovo state code, which was split in December 2016 by the International Telekomunication Union (ITU), was set to start on June 30th, but that deadline was extended for October 31st, following the demands of mobile and fixed mobile operators Vala and Ipko.

Arsim Bilalli, spokesperson at Kosovo Telecom, tells Radio Free Europe that they are committed with all resources to finding a solution, even improvised, to meet the deadline set by the Electronic and Post Communications Regulatory Authority (ARKEP).

But, according to him, it is extremely challenging to reach deadlines according to the ARKEP migration plan.

The current “situation in Kosovo Telecom and operational and technical complexity in relations with our international partners as key factors in the overall implementation of the state code have made the deadlines extremely challenging according to the ARKEP migration plan. This means that this process is dependent on operational specifications, which cannot be completed solely based on the technical resources of Kosovo Telecom”, says Bilalli.

Bilalli adds that Kosovo Telecom continues to be in consultation for technical assistance with international partners and will soon find a suitable solution for implementing the new +383 code.

Telekom's sad story, from profitable to deep crisis

“will be completed later by October 31st 2018, and the implementation of the E.164 +383 code on the mobile network should be completed in all. By this date, the +383 code should be the only code for orientation and the terming of international traffic in the Republic of Kosovo”, Bilal adds.

Kosovo's telecom is now in deep financial crisis. The accumulated debt has reached 60m euros. Authorities in Kosovo have begun to take measures to avoid the company's bankruptcy.

Kreshnik Gashi, chairman of the Board of Electronic and Post Communications Regulatory Authority, tells Radio Free Europe that there will be no delay and that operators should respect the deadline.

The “Codi +383, with the decision issued by ARKEP, is set to apply since October 31st and all operators have been notified. We expect the code + 383 and mobile phone to be fully implemented by October 31st, even by operators. So far we do not have any requests for postponement or information that this deadline cannot be achieved, however ARKEP made it clear that October 31st is the deadline and that unless the code is implemented by that date then the measures under Law” will be implemented, Gashi says.

Meanwhile, according to the law on electronic communication, in such cases the Authority has the right to condemn the entrepreneur to up to 10 percent of the annual revenues from activities involving electronic communications, but if the calculation of such a sum is difficult or impossible, the Authority condemns the entrepreneur with a lot of not more than 150 thousand euros.

Currently, there are two mobile operators in Kosovo who use international foreign codes.

Mobile phone “Vala” uses Monaco's (+377) code, Slovenia's IPKO (+386) for which Kosovo must pay high cost of spending.

Kosovo Government data has shown that the overall cost caused so far by the lack of the telephone code has reached over 200m euros.

Meanwhile, as far as fixed phones are concerned, incoming and exit calls are now only realised with +383 code.