As Balkan nations edge toward 5G readiness, a closer look at their mobile telecom markets reveals a story of tight control and regional disparity.
Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro each host three mobile operators, while Slovenia boasts seven, and North Macedonia — surprisingly — supports six.
Yet beneath the surface variety lies a shared trait: market concentration. In Serbia, where over 8.1 million SIM cards outnumber the population, Telekom Srbija commands a 42.7% user share.
Slovenia, though most diverse, sees Telekom Slovenije leading with 35.8%.
Meanwhile, North Macedonia is the region’s most concentrated market, with just two operators — A1 and Makedonski Telekom — splitting over 94% of users.
According to RATEL, even Slovenia’s dynamic field remains “highly concentrated” with HH indices ranging from 2,676 to 4,460 — a red flag for competition watchdogs.
Why does this matter? With 5G on the horizon, regulatory decisions made now will shape not only future pricing and innovation, but also digital equity across the region.
