--- title: News from Central & Eastern Europe - Developing Telecoms description: Telecommunications News from Central & Eastern Europe canonical_url: https://developingtelecoms.com/regions/central-eastern-europe-telecommunications.html?start=350 language: en-GB date: 2025-11-25T00:11:39Z notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://developingtelecoms.com/regions/central-eastern-europe-telecommunications.html?start=350. markdown-tokens: 3598 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://developingtelecoms.com/regions/central-eastern-europe-telecommunications.html?start=350. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. ![Fibre rollout begins in Ukraine](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/kiev_evening_600.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 11 February 2022 6757 views Part of a multi-million-euro investment fund has been spent to bridge the digital divide for 1.3 million Urktelecom customers in Ukraine, as the operator hailed its strategy in sourcing international investment. ![PPF replaces Telenor branding with Yettel for CEE units](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/belgrade_aerial_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 28 January 2022 19617 views Almost three years after acquiring Telenor’s operations in Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia, PPF Group has confirmed that it will stop using the Norwegian group’s branding from 1st March 2022. ![Latvia concludes 1.5GHz tender as Lithuania delays auction deadline](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/riga_aerial_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 25 January 2022 11979 views Latvia’s Public Utilities Commission (SPRK) has concluded its tender for 1.5GHz spectrum permits, with the regulator’s council due to approve the results by the end of January 2022. ![Telemach Croatia closes acquisition of Optima stake](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/croatia_dubrovnik_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 24 January 2022 12025 views Croatian operator Telemach has closed its acquisition of a majority holding in local broadband provider Optima Telekom. ![Slovenia exploring sale of Telekom Slovenije stake](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Ljubljana_north_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 18 January 2022 12905 views Slovenia’s government is mulling a potential sale of all or part of its holding in Telekom Slovenije. ![5G buzz continues with launches in Zambia and Lithuania](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Lusaka_Zambia_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 14 January 2022 16318 views There’s been no let-up in 5G activity lately, with Zambia’s MTN announcing the country’s first 5G launch and Telia highlighting a dynamic spectrum sharing-based 5G launch now underway in Lithuania. ![Kismet-Megafon JV buys Russian Towers](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/moscow_Kutuzov_Avenue600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html) 10 January 2022 13522 views Investment firm Kismet Capital Group, through its joint venture with telecoms company Megafon, can apparently now boast the largest tower asset portfolio in Russia after a major acquisition involving a Russian infrastructure company. ![Mtel aiming to launch mobile offering in North Macedonia this spring](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Skopje_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 05 January 2022 11105 views North Macedonia’s Mtel – which currently offers satellite TV services – has announced plans to begin a mobile offering in spring 2022. ![Tet acquires Telia’s Latvian B2B operation](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Riga_Old_Town_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Enterprise Ecosystems](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/enterprise-ecosystems.html) 05 January 2022 10993 views Following a competitive auction process, Latvian fixed broadband operator Tet is acquiring 100% of Telia’s local B2B unit Telia Latvija for EUR10.75 million (US$12.1 million). ![Montenegro’s operators spend EUR7 million in latest spectrum auction](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/montenegro_perast_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 05 January 2022 12619 views Montenegrin regulator EKIP (Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services) confirmed that the country’s latest round of spectrum auctions saw 220MHz of frequencies sold. ![All available spectrum sold in Latvia’s 700MHz auctions](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/riga_aerial_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 04 January 2022 10534 views Latvia’s Public Utilities Commission (Sabiedrisko Pakalpojumu Regulesanas Komisija / SPRK) has named the winning bidders in its recent auctions for technology neutral spectrum licences in the 700MHz band. ![4iG closes Hungary and Montenegro buys and eyes ONE in Albania](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/montenegro_kotor_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 04 January 2022 18423 views Hungary’s 4iG group has completed the acquisition of two European operators and announced an agreement to acquire a third. ![Nokia and Tele2 expand 5G partnership in the Baltics](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Vilnius_600_credit.jpg) Image credit: domantasm. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/domantasm/23444176584/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92950058 Details James Barton Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 04 January 2022 10046 views Nokia is extending its partnership with Tele2 to deploy 5G RAN in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in a long-term deal. ![Two Polish operators to share optical fibre](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/Swiatlowod_Inwesticje_.jpg) Details Shailaja Pai Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 04 January 2022 10257 views Swiatlowod Inwesticje (trading under the FiberCo brand), the provider of telecommunication services based in Warsaw, Poland, has started a cooperation with Polsat Plus Group. ![Slovak operators Swan and 4ka merged on New Year Eve](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/Swan_and_4ka_.jpg) Details Shailaja Pai Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 03 January 2022 9755 views Slovak operators Swan and Swan Mobile (4ka) merged to create a full-fledged telecommunications operator with an offer of convergent, fixed, and mobile services. ![Orange Polska halfway to 2025 climate goals with wind farm deal](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Warsaw_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Energy & Sustainability](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/energy-sustainability.html) 21 December 2021 9605 views Orange Polska has signed a new long-term PPA for the purchase of renewable energy in Poland. ![Elisa Estonia selects Nokia as sole 5G RAN vendor](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/tallinn_aerial_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 20 December 2021 8935 views Elisa Estonia has signed a five-year deal with Nokia that will see the Finnish vendor replace the operator’s existing 4G infrastructure and deploy 5G RAN nationwide. ![Czechia extends 2,100 MHz licence allocation](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Prague_Hradschin_600.jpg) Details Shailaja Pai Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 20 December 2021 5529 views The Czech Telecommunication Office (Cesky telekomunikacni urad, CTU) has extended the allocation of frequencies to operators in the 2100 MHz band for another 20 years. ![Estonia to put three 3.5GHz licences up for auction next year](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Tallinn_Snow_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 17 December 2021 9650 views Estonia looks set to offer three licences for 5G-ready 3.5GHz spectrum at auction in the first quarter of next year. ![Orange installs private wireless network at Polish Nokia factory](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/Orange_Nokia_.jpg) Details Shailaja Pai Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 17 December 2021 8625 views Polish telecommunications provider Orange Polska (Orange Poland) has deployed private LTE and 5G networks at Nokia's factory and R&D facility in the city of Bydgoszcz. ![EIB loan could help to boost 4G and 5G coverage in Serbia](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Belgrade_Panorama_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html) 16 December 2021 10230 views Telekom Srbija is to receive a €70 million ($79.4 million) loan from the EU’s European Investment Bank (EIB) for the rollout of a 5G telecommunications network and the extension of the existing 4G network across the Republic of Serbia. ![Poland reallocating 2100MHz band for 5G next year](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/krakow_Wawel_castle.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 10 December 2021 10253 views Poland’s regulator UKE (Urzad Komunikacji Elektronicznej / Office of Electronic Communications) has confirmed its reallocation plans for the 2100MHz band. ![Hungary's 4iG acquires Albania's Albtelecom](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Tirana_600.jpg) Details Shailaja Pai Category: [Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html) 10 December 2021 12296 views Hungarian IT service management company 4iG said it has signed a final contract to buy an 80.27% stake in Albanian telecommunications operator Albtelecom from Cetel Telecom, a majority-owned subsidiary of Turkey’s diversified holding company Calik Holding. ![PPF to crowd out minority shareholders of O2 Czech Republic ](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Prague_Hradschin_600.jpg) Details Shailaja Pai Category: [Business](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business.html) 09 December 2021 8015 views PPF Telco, which controls over 90% of telecommunication company O2 Czech Republic (O2 CR), has obtained approval from the Czech National Bank (CNB) to start the buyout of shares from minority shareholders. ![T-Mobile Czechia to use Mavenir SDC for smartwatch services](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Prague_Hradschin_600.jpg) Details Shailaja Pai Category: [Enterprise Ecosystems](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/enterprise-ecosystems.html) 08 December 2021 6059 views Mavenir, the network software provider, announced that T-Mobile has become the first operator in the Czech Republic to enable customers who own select smartwatches, to connect to their existing mobile number. ![Starlink ready for take-off in India and Lithuania in 2022](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Vilnius_600_credit.jpg) Image credit: domantasm. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/domantasm/23444176584/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92950058 Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Satellite Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/satellite-communications-networks.html) 06 December 2021 11872 views Starlink Internet Services, a division of the SpaceX aerospace company, plans to apply for the appropriate licences to sell satellite-based internet commercially in India. This happened after last week’s announcement from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that the company had no right to sell broadband connections in the country as it had not yet been licensed to do so. ![Czech-mate for 3G as O2 and T-Mobile complete shutdown](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Prague_Hradschin_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Data Centres & Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/data-centres-networks.html) 03 December 2021 15764 views The Czech units of O2 and T-Mobile have confirmed that they shut down their 3G networks on 30th November. ![Poland's Plus and Aero2 complete merger](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Warsaw_downtown_600.jpg) Details Shailaja Pai Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 03 December 2021 8438 views Polsat Plus Group in Poland has officially announced the completion of the merger of its two mobile network subsidiaries, Polkomtel, trading under the Plus brand, and Aero2. ![Datagroup upgrading backbone infrastructure in Ukraine with Cisco](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/kiev_evening_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 02 December 2021 10484 views Ukrainian fibre infrastructure and digital services provider Datagroup has tapped Cisco to modernise its backbone network. ![Service-Telecom closes acquisition of Veon’s Russian towers](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Petersburg_600.png) Details James Barton Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 02 December 2021 12751 views Veon has closed the sale of its Russian mobile towers to local firm Service-Telecom, a partner of VimpelCom’s Beeline, for RUB70.65 billion (US$957 million). ![North Macedonia opens 5G spectrum tender](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/skopje_night_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 30 November 2021 10630 views North Macedonia’s Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK) has begun a tender process for 5G-ready spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz (3400MHz-3800MHz) bands. ![Estonia aligning with Europe against Huawei](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Tallinn_Snow_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 26 November 2021 15296 views Estonia’s parliament The Rigiikogu has approved new legislation that effectively bans the country’s operators from using network equipment from China’s Huawei.