Ljajic announces talks on free roaming across region

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic said Thursday that it is possible to reach an agreement on introducing free roaming between countries in the region, adding, however, that the process will be neither simple nor quick.

As Ljajic told Tanjug, a meeting of regional regulatory authorities will be organized in late August in Skopje to discuss the possibility of free roaming in the zone that would include Serbia, Turkey, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania, and later on Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo as well.

If an agreement is reached, talks will ensue with mobile telephony operators in the region, regarding their economic interest in this matter.

Free roaming would certainly be in the interest of people living in the region, but the interest of operators might be different, said Ljajic.

Asked if there is a possibility that roaming charges in the region will be scrapped as of January 1st 2015, as some regional media reported, Ljajic said that he doubts it could be done so soon.

"It will be neither simple, nor quick,” he said.

Photo Tanjug, Z. Zestic (archive)

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