Information and communications technology in Kosovo

Information and communication technology (ICT) in Kosovo has experienced a remarkable development since 1999.[1] From being almost non-existent 10 years ago, Kosovar companies in the information technology (IT) domain offer today wide range of ICT services to their customers both local as well as to foreign companies.[1] Kosovo has the youngest population in Europe,[2] with advanced knowledge in ICT.[3]

Today, public and private education institutions in the IT field, through certified learning curricula by companies such as CISCO[3] and Microsoft, provide education to thousands of young Kosovars while the demand for this form of training is still rising.[4]

Kosovo has two authorized mobile network operators and is the only country in the region not having awarded any UMTS license. Kosovo has neither awarded licenses for fixed wireless access, nor made the 900 and 1800 MHz bands technology neutral.[5] Currently around 1,200,000 customers of "Vala" Post and Telecom of Kosovo (PTK). As of March 2007 the second GSM license granted to IPKO – Telekom Slovenije. Currently IPKO has over 1,000,000 users.[6] Following the Brussels Agreement, Kosovo has its own telephone dialing code: 383. Before this assignment, network operators in Kosovo used either 387 (Monaco) or 386 (Slovenia).[7] All other codes were to have been superseded by the new code on 15 January 2017, but some are still in use.[8]

The infrastructure of ICT sector in Kosovo is mainly built of microwave network, optic and coaxial cable (DOCSIS). The telecom industry is liberalized and legislation is introduced adopting European Union regulatory principles and promoting competition. Some of the main internet providers are PTK, IPKO, Kujtesa and Artmotion.[7]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference STIKKBC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Country report - Kosovo". International Business and diplomatic exchange - IBDE. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference cisco was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Investing in Kosovo" (PDF). Economic Initiative for Kosovo - ECIKS. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  5. ^ "Final study report" (PDF). Cullen International. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Ipko 1 milion konsumatorë". Ipko facebook. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Analysis of ICT industry in Kosovo" (PDF). Kosovo Economic development through quality and networking. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Kosovo Dialing Code Change". 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.