North Macedonia’s planned third mobile operator will use Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network under a strategic cooperation agreement with Hungarian telecommunications company 4iG, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski has announced.
Speaking on the 360 Degrees programme on MRT 1, Nikoloski said 4iG had already announced its strategic cooperation with Starlink. He explained that the company was currently renting base stations and would move towards direct use of Starlink satellites once testing was completed.
The arrangement is expected to support both mobile and internet services.
Asked whether Starlink could suspend access as it has been a subject of concern in Ukraine, Nikoloski described the proposed arrangement as a commercial agreement, distinguishing it from the military and state-related use of the technology.
The third mobile operator could launch by the end of 2026, provided it obtains the necessary licence. Its entry would introduce a new competitor into North Macedonia’s telecommunications market, although the final rollout and timing will depend on licensing and the completion of technical testing.
