Dejan Ristić, Serbian Minister of Information and Telecommunications

Serbia’s Ministry of Information and Telecommunications aims to propel the country to the highest global standards in electronic communications, thereby contributing to the development of the economy and innovation, as well as the digital society

The development and implementation of new, modern technologies in the Republic of Serbia, along with the continued systemic digitalisation and digital transformation, are priorities for the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications. “Our goal is to achieve the highest global standards in the field of electronic communications, ensuring that it becomes the foundation for the development of the economy, innovation and digital society,” says Information and Telecommunications Minister Dejan Ristić.

The Proposal for the Development Strategy of the Electronic Communications System until 2030 was recently prepared in an inclusive and transparent manner. The strategy outlines national priorities for the planning, construction, deployment and provision of electronic communication networks and services of interest to the Republic of Serbia, explains Ristić.

“The Ministry is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and developing broadband communication infrastructure, including in rural areas. Additionally, raising public awareness and enhancing skills to effectively utilise digital resources in the accelerated development of the digital society are of great importance,” adds our interlocutor.

What are your expectations regarding the further growth and development of Serbia’s IT sector?

— The IT sector in the Republic of Serbia has shown consistent growth and development in recent years, and this positive trend is expected to continue in the future. This is most evident in the steady increase in the export of ICT services. According to the latest statistical data, the export of ICT products and services in the first five months of 2024 increased by a significant 20.5% compared to the same period of last year.

Serbia has the potential to become a centre for innovation in the IT sector, with a focus on software development, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and other advanced technologies.

Special attention is being paid to the development of infrastructure and services necessary for the smooth hosting of EXPO 2027

An increasing number of educational institutions are introducing programmes in the field of information technology, while numerous private courses and academies offer retraining and further education, ensuring a qualified workforce. The IT sector in the Republic of Serbia has great potential for innovation, growth and development. With government support and an increasing number of qualified professionals, Serbia is on route to becoming one of the top leaders in the IT industry across the region and beyond.

The electronic interconnection of numerous services has helped the business community to perform various administrative tasks much more efficiently. What can we expect in the period ahead in this regard?

— E-Government in the Republic of Serbia plays a key role in the modernisation and efficiency of public administration. It not only contributes to the better functioning of state institutions, but also significantly improves quality of life for citizens and the competitiveness of the economy.

In line with the strategic commitments of the Government, intensive work will be carried out in the coming period on the development of infrastructure for e-Government. One of the focuses will be on improving the State Data Management and Storage Centre to enable the swifter and more uniform development of e-Government services and reduce the costs of procuring, managing and maintaining the ICT infrastructure that each authority acquires for its needs.

The Kragujevac Data Centre provides a secure location for storing backup copies of data and applications located in the State Data Management and Storage Centre in Belgrade, ensuring security and continuity in the provision of e-services and enabling the centralised development of individual and shared e-services of public administration bodies.

Plans are also in place to establish new and improve existing registers and records in electronic form, as a form of support for the development of e-Government services.

Alongside the advancement of digital transformation, the issue of further work on information security is also increasingly important. What are the key updates in the draft Law on Information Security?

— The new law will advance information security in the country by adopting improved regulatory solutions, redefining responsibilities and providing clearer procedures in the event of incidents or cyber threats, as well as strengthening the institutional framework for responding to challenges in the cyber world. The proposed text serves as the legislative foundation for the further development of information security improvements, in line with best practices, and will enable the Republic of Serbia to develop measures to protect ICT systems and networks, effectively addressing the increasing challenges in the field of information technology.

The procedure for obtaining permits for the installation of base stations in mobile networks has been simplified significantly

The most significant changes include a revised classification of ICT system operators of special importance according to the level of importance of the services they provide. Additionally, the responsibilities of the national CERT have been expanded, the obligation to report incidents in ICT systems of special importance has been clarified, the responsibilities of bodies dealing with information security have been redefined, and measures have been taken for a more effective response to cyber threats and incidents. In order to improve the institutional framework, the establishment of the Office for Information Security, as a separate organisation, is also planned.

The topic of frequency auctions for 5G is particularly interesting to the business community. When do you expect this process to unfold and what do you consider as the benefits of 5G technology for the economy and citizens, as well as for the state?

— In addition to fixed broadband infrastructure, the Ministry is also working on creating conditions for the further development of mobile broadband infrastructure.

Namely, alongside the adoption of the new Law on Electronic Communications in 2023, and ensuring the availability of pioneer bands for the introduction of 5G, the Ministry will establish the minimum conditions for issuing individual licenses for the use of the radio frequency spectrum based on a public bidding process this year. In 2025, the Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services will conduct the auction. This will make 5G commercially available in the Republic of Serbia.

The primary advantages of 5G mobile networks include a significant increase in data throughput with reduced latency, which is essential for efficient automation and other processes that are crucial to the development of industry. There are numerous examples of potential applications for 5G networks, including in areas such as agronomy, the automotive industry, medicine, transportation and logistics. Even at the current level of development of the domestic industry, the development of the 5G network and other modern technologies will undoubtedly provide strong impetus to the country’s overall development.

Mobile operators are finding it increasingly difficult to find locations for setting up base stations due to regulatory barriers in the field of environmental protection, which may slow down industry growth. On the other hand, this contradicts the state’s plan to provide quality telecommunications infrastructure in preparation for EXPO 2027 and the introduction of 5G technology. How can your Ministry help solve these problems?

— In accordance with the Law on Electronic Communications, holders of individual licenses issued on the basis of a public bidding process are no longer required to obtain an individual permit for each base station in the mobile network, which is issued upon request. Instead, radio stations are only registered with the Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services.

Moreover, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has issued an Instruction on the application of certain articles of the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment and the Rulebook on sources of non-ionizing radiation of special interest, types of sources, methods and periods of testing for the installation of base stations for mobile telephony.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure has issued its Guidance on the Application of Certain Articles of the Law on Planning and Construction, also with the aim of further developing public mobile electronic communication networks.

Special attention is also being paid to the development of infrastructure and services necessary for the smooth hosting of EXPO 2027. The Action Plan for the 2024-2027 period, which was prepared along with the Proposal for the Development Strategy of the Electronic Communications System until 2030, and which is expected to soon be adopted by the Government, envisages covering the EXPO 2027 complex with a 5G network signal by the end of 2026.