AmCham Montenegro recently organized a conference entitled “Telecommunications in Montenegro – Contribution of Digital Economy to Society Development” in coordination with all three mobile operators in Montenegro: Crnogorski Telekom, Telenor and m:tel.

ICT is the pillar of digital economy, which is fundamental for further society development in Montenegro.

The AmCham conference on telecommunications and digital economy gathered the most respective professionals, stakeholders and business entities that compete on the telecommunications market. The goal of the conference was to raise awareness about the impact of digital economy on operator’s need to invest in modern network and furthermore, how operators, Government and regulators can work together in order to stimulate consumer welfare.

The welcome note at the conference was delivered by Ms. Milica Dragojević, Acting Executive Director of AmCham Montenegro. Ms. Dragojević stated that investments in Montenegrin telecommunication operators economy from the telecommunication operators are estimated to 27 million € per year. A yearly amount of 39 million € are collected in taxes. “The contribution of telecommunication operators is not only measured by the amount of money, but also with the number of jobs created in this and related sectors. Likewise, we cannot dispute the importance of transfer of knowledge for the advancement of our society and the indirect employment created by going digital“, said Ms. Dragojević.

Welcome note by Ms. Milica Dragojević, Acting Executive Director of AmCham Montenegro

During his welcome note, H.E. Mr. Mitja Drobnič, the EU Ambassador to Montenegro, also elaborated on the importance of creating a transparent regulatory environment in accordance with the EU standards.

The first keynote speaker at the conference, Mr. Vujica Lazović, the Minister of Information Society and Telecommunications, talked about the Benefits of Digital Economy from the Government Perspective. The Government of Montenegro perceives the ICT sector as one of key drivers of economic development, social welfare and Montenegro’s competitive position in the region and the EU. Therefore, both the Government and the Ministry of Information Society and Telecommunications, consider that the partnership with telco operators is crucial for development of new digital network and services. “Regional and European analysis show that the current infrastructure and quality of broadband network and services in Montenegro is in accordance with the EU standards. A good example of this is the implementation of 4G network.” said Minister Lazović during his presentation.

Mr. Rüdiger Schulz, the CEO of Crnogorski Telekom, addressed the audience with the Global Digitalization Trends and its Connection to Montenegro and the Region.

The quantity of information that is placed, shared and read during one minute on the Internet indicates that the whole world, not just business, is completely dependable on the ICT sector. Therefore, it is important for every country to follow the situation in this sector and stay up-to-date with relevant opportunities and global trends, while developing its ICT strategy.

Montenegro’s ICT Strategy until 2016

“Challenging National ICT Strategy targets have been and will be fully supported by Montenegrin service providers, however, both way commitments are something that we count on. Deregulation is also a prerequisite for further investments which shall result in innovations, improved services and optimization of resources of service providers.” stated Mr. Schulz.

Having in mind the broad scope of factors that influence telecommunications industry, hence, the development of digital economy, Mr. Ove Fredheim, Chairman Management Board of Telenor Montenegro elaborated on What Drives the Value of Spectrum Licenses and how this translates into Service Quality for the Montenegrin Society.

Telecommunications is the key enabler of a modern society

As stated by Mr. Fredheim, the upcoming spectrum auction in Montenegro is highly important for the overall society in Montenegro.“Telco operators need to strike a balance, putting the needs of customers as top priorities. Auction rules should be harmonized to maximize economic efficiency and increase transparency, consistency and simplicity. The Montenegrin authorities should think of the telecom players as their trusted partners in putting this together. I do hope that this conference will achieve its goal: to exchange views on how all of us, working together, can contribute to the development of the Montenegrin society.”

Important topic addressed at the conference is the regulation of OTT players on the market, as well as their impact on the situation in this industry.

Precondition for development of telecommunication industry, as foundation for digital economy, is enabling same rules for similar services, for similar players, in order to have fair game and to be able to contribute and create new solutions for customers.

Telco needs modern regulation and a level playing field

Since regulatory frameworks is a prerequisite for further development of ICT sector, we are pleased to have hosted Mr. John Strand, CEO of Strandconsult to present the burning issue of Telecommunication and Regulatory Trends in the EU/World. From his perspective, Governments should work with the telecommunications industry to make a long-term plan for ensuring predictable telecommunications market and enable to operator to gain income that will be invested in infrastructure of country in the next 5 to 10 years. Mr. Strand assessed that “Digital solutions make the public sector more efficient by reducing costs and increasing the quality of the services for citizens. Digital solutions also lower barriers to entrepreneurship. People can launch a business from their home and find customers anywhere.”

Mr. Dejan Cvetković, Regional Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft, talked about Leadingthe Digital Transformation of the Society. He was very optimistic with regards to the future of Montenegro and its ICT and development, which leads to the economic and social prosperity. “Technology existence is connected with enabling better life for citizens, which is easier to achieve in smaller countries. This is especially true, knowing that Montenegrin Government is committed to innovative usage of ICT technology for about a decade. We are pleased to be part of digital transformation of Montenegro.” stated Mr. Cvetković.

A dynamic technology landscape

The main conclusion from the conference is that countries that can provide their citizens access to the best telecommunication infrastructure and services, will be the countries that are best prepared for the future.

The telecom industry is – and will continue to be – the industry that connects modern societies.

The conference also hosted two panel discussions on the topic of influence of digital economy to society development, as well as elaborated on trends in the telecommunications regulatory environment. In our next blog post, you can read the most important conclusions from these panel discussions!