Telecommunications (Technical Dialogue Agreement)

• Country/entity

  Kosovo
  Serbia
  Yugoslavia (former)
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Telecommunications (Technical Dialogue Agreement)
• Date

  8 Sep 2013
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) ( Balkan Conflicts (1991 - 1995) (1998 - 2001) )
• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Kosovo-Serbia Normalisation Process
• Parties

  Agreement unsigned, parties believed to be the Kosovo delegation, led by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and the Serbian delegation led by Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.
• Third parties

  Agreement unsigned, meeting was chaired by the EU facilitator, Catherine Ashton.
• Description

  Short agreement in which parties agree that Kosovo will be allocated a 3 digit dial code, and registration and regulation modalities. The two sides agreed that a mutually accepted modality will be found regarding this process within three months, with EU facilitation as necessary.

• Agreement document

  KV_130908_Telecommunications (Technical Dialogue Agreement).pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Telecommunications

1. In the context of the EU-facilitated dialogue, both sides agree that Kosovo shall be allocated a 3 digit dial code from the ITU in line with the standards and principles and timetable of the ITU.

The two sides agreed that a mutually accepted modality will be found regarding this process within three months, with EU facilitation as necessary.

The aim is that the migration period relating to the dial code should end by January 2015.

After this date, this dial code from the ITU will be used by all operators in Kosovo.

Operators from both parties will reduce costs to local charges for citizens.

2. Regulators in both sides will agree technical agreements to harmonize the use of spectrum for GSM and television signal, including digital terrestrial broadcasting with the aim of ensuring mutually uninterrupted provision of services based on the principles of ITU and avoiding harmful interference between the mobile operators of both sides with a view to reducing costs to citizens.

They will also enter into a harmonization process for digital frequencies.

3. On fixed telephony a full license for fixed telecommunications services will be issued to a NewCo, subsidiary of a Serbian company registered in accordance with the Kosovar regulatory framework.

4. On mobile telephony the Kosovo authorities will permit the new company a temporary authorization, under Kosovo regulatory framework for current operations limited to the current infrastructure on the ground.

This temporary authorization will not expire before January 2015.

The temporary authorization will expire once the Kosovo authorities issue a new full, unrestricted, mobile telephone license as a result of a tender/auction.

The tender will be organized in line with EU Standards.

5. Although Postal services were not part of these discussions both sides agree to discuss them at a later stage.

6. An implementation group will be formed with EU facilitation as necessary in order to draft a full Action plan for the implementation of the Agreement.

Once the above arrangements have entered into force, the implementation group may discuss, at the request of either side, any other issues relating to these arrangements.

The full implementation process will commence upon receipt of written acceptance of Action plan.