The development of digital infrastructure in the Western Balkans constitutes a Flagship of the European Union’s Economic and Investment Plan for this region. In this context, WBIF has supported the preparation of a Feasibility Study with Cost-Benefit Analysis for the development of broadband communication in Montenegro.
In the scope of technical assistance, an assessment of the existing situation in Montenegro was conducted and the plans of the telecom operators to deploy infrastructure in the next three years were investigated. The settlements in the country have been classified into white, grey and black zones based on the number of operators (none, one or at least two operators respectively) that currently or in the next three years will provide speeds over 30Mb/s. The majority of settlements have been found to be in white zones, which are the most challenging to invest in terms of costs and benefits.
A technoeconomic model was developed allowing the estimation of the cost of network deployment. Legal, regulatory and organisational framework in Montenegro was also investigated and recommendations were made for its improvement in order to facilitate the deployment of broadband networks throughout the country.
The scenario selected by the Government concerns a broadband network that will offer Very High Capacity (VHC) internet services to the white areas and grey areas which have at least one facility characterised as a socio-economic driver (health, educational or public administration institution).
