UPC Poland (UPC Polska), the largest cable television operator and a leading provider of triple-play services in Poland, has introduced 5G services to its subscribers in Poland.

Despite the Ukraine government announcing grand plans in November 2020 to enable the commercial launch of 5G mobile services by the end of 2021 (including a spectrum auction slated for October), there has been remarkably little evidence of any progress being made towards putting those plans into action.

Montenegrin regulator EKIP (Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services) has announced that it plans to hold an auction for 5G-ready spectrum in December.

Hungary's Innovation and Technology Ministry and Huawei Technologies Hungary signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on long-term cooperation in Budapest.

Russia’s MegaFon is spinning off its tower infrastructure into a new independent joint venture with the domestic tower firm Vertical.

Hungary’s 4iG has signed a final agreement with PPF Telecom Group to acquire 100% of Telenor Montenegro.

Lithaunia’s Communications Regulatory Authority (Rysiu Reguliavimo Tarnyba, RRT) has outlined its auction plans for 5G-ready 700MHz spectrum.

Ukraine is set to broaden the remit of its telecoms regulator NCCIR (National Commission for State Regulation of Communications & Informatization) as the country looks to align its legislation with Europe’s.

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s HT Mostar has signed new equipment deals with Croatia’s Ericsson Nikola Tesla (ENT) worth over HRK31 million (USD4.8 million).

Polish cellular telecommunications provider Play Communications SA (known as Play or P4) has signed a new agreement with Ericsson to expand its RAN (Radio Access Network).

Slovenian operator T-2 has awarded a 5-year 5G network contract to Nokia.

Orange Polska (Orange Poland), a Polish telecommunications provider, has launched a new data centre, the Warsaw Data Hub.

Hungary is launching a HUF5 billion (US$16 million) initiative to help consumers switch from 3G devices to 4G/5G smartphones.

The Slovak private equity fund Sandberg Capital has agreed with its joint venture partner DanubiaTel to sell its 50% stake in Swan, the country’s largest alternative telecommunications operator on the Slovak market.

Having announced a preliminary agreement in June, Hungary-based IT and ICT company 4iG has now confirmed that it is to buy Israeli satellite operator Spacecom.

Romanian regulator ANCOM has opened competitive bidding for short-term licences for the country’s unused mobile frequencies.

České Radiokomunikace, a telecommunications company in the Czech Republic, has entered into a strategic partnership with Vantage Towers, which manages approximately 4,000 broadcasting base stations in the country.

Russian media has reported that the country expects to begin the large-scale shuttering of 3G networks in 2023, with the technology set to be phased out almost entirely by 2025.

Hungarian ICT group 4iG announced it closed the acquisition of peer IT/network infrastructure solutions provider Invitech after the transaction was cleared by the Competition Office (GVH).

Orange Romania has closed its acquisition of a majority holding in Telekom Romania Communications (TKR) from Greece’s OTE.

The Czech regulator has announced plans to regulate the country’s mobile data market next year after deciding there isn’t enough competition.

Telekom Slovenije has tapped Nokia to supply broadband equipment to allow its FTTH network to offer 10Gb/s, with deployment slated for this year.

Belarusian infrastructure provider beCloud has partnered with mobile operator A1 to boost 4G/LTE coverage in the Vitebsk region by “almost seven times”.

Polish wireless operator Aero2, an affordable mobile operator, with the legendary Free Internet Access (BDI) offer, will merge with the operator cellco Plus (Polkomtel).

Iliad Group has signed an agreement to acquire cable firm UPC Poland from Liberty Global for PLN7 billion (US$1.8 billion).

Iskratel, the Slovenian information, and telecommunications equipment manufacturer, launched the Innbox G92 multi-gigabit GPON home gateway for high-speed connectivity.

Hungary's 4iG will become the owner of Invitech ICT Services after the company concluded a sales contract with ICT Services' owner, Cyprus-based Rotamona, according to a report by state news wire MTI.

Telekom Srbija is acquiring ISP Posta NET from Post Srbije, a Serbian postal service provider.

Tower sales are back in the news. This time an operator is selling its towers in Russia to a company keen to expand its infrastructure portfolio – and making just under a billion dollars from the deal.

The Russian telecom market is the largest in Europe, supported by a population approaching 147 million.

Romania’s telecom market has undergone several significant changes in recent years.