Makedonski Telekom

Makedonski Telekom launched its 3G network in June 2009 as part of its continuous efforts to enhance telecommunications services in North Macedonia. However, with the advancement of newer technologies, the company planned to shut down its 3G network by the end of April 2024. This decision was part of a broader strategy to enhance connectivity and energy efficiency by reallocating resources to more advanced network technologies like LTE and 5G.

Makedonski Telekom was the first operator to introduce 4G LTE in North Macedonia. The company launched its LTE services using the 800 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum on December 2, 2013, covering most of Skopje and Mavrovo. By November 9, 2015, Makedonski Telekom had launched LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation in the downtown area of Skopje, supporting theoretical peak downlink data speeds of up to 220 Mbps. At that time, the LTE network covered 45% of the territory and 70% of the population. The company continued to modernise its network to improve the 4G experience for its customers.

Makedonski Telekom began preparations for its 5G network in 2018, conducting tests in its 5G laboratory. In 2019, the company set up the first test 5G network in the centre of Skopje to test performance in real conditions. By 2020, these tests were conducted to prepare the network for the commercial phase. In 2021, Makedonski Telekom expressed interest in acquiring licenses for national coverage in the 700 MHz and 3 GHz spectrums during a planned auction by the Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK). By the end of 2022, Makedonski Telekom had picked up the long-awaited 700 MHz and 3.6 GHz spectrum, with 5G services expected in 26 cities. As of Q2 2023, North Macedonia achieved the highest median 5G download speed in Central and Eastern Europe at 317.91 Mbps, indicating the successful deployment and performance of Makedonski Telekom's 5G SA network.