- Cosmote 5G network reaches 70% population coverage milestone in Greece.
- Greece: OTE Group took to LinkedIn to trumpet its IT department’s involvement in the European Union’s DataPorts project. The project aims to manage data in order to optimise port operations and enhance the supply and transport chain. OTE, which signed up to the initiative in April 2021, is participating in the planning, development, and testing of new services, as well as the definition of technical requirements and specifications of a new central data management platform (Deutsche Telekomwatch, #104).
- Cosmote Greece flagged that its 5G network now passes 70% of the country’s population, with a target to reach 80% by the end of 2022 and 90% in 2023. The operator highlighted that its 5G standalone network will begin operating at the end of 2023, and that it had agreed 5G roaming deals with 48 countries.
- Cosmote won a contract with the municipality of Vari‑Voula-Vouliagmeni in Greece for the supply and implementation of a Narrowband Internet of Things‑based smart waste collection bins system, underpinned by Microsoft Azure. Cosmote will install telematics devices in 5,300 waste collection bins, allowing for the bins to be monitored remotely in real time, as well as for placement according to demand, via a data analysis platform provided by EmDoT, a local IoT solution specialist. The smart bin system will purportedly reduce the municipality’s collection operating costs by up to 50%.
- Hungary: Magyar Telekom launched Alakits nagyot! (“Make it Big!”), an online programme for users of its Hello Business platform, providing new offers and an online series demonstrating the benefits of digital transformation at small businesses. The online content was created in collaboration with marketing consultant Gabor Wolf and two unnamed small businesses. The operator also expanded its offering for small enterprises, including four new unlimited tariffs, discounts encouraging use of paid apps, and a monthly reduction of up to 50% for premium‑level Magenta 1 subscriptions.
- Montenegro: Crnogorski Telekom activated its 5G network in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica, using dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) technology. The operator highlighted that its “strategic partner” on the project was Samsung, without disclosing any further details. Crnogorski Telekom deployed its 5G network in four locations in Podgorica during March 2022, based on kit from Ericsson Nikola Tesla (Deutsche Telekomwatch, #114).
- Romania: Telekom Romania Mobile Communications (TRMC) reportedly lost an appeal against a fine of RON 700,000 (€143,358) from regulator ANCOM for failing to provide mobile voice coverage to at least 98% of the country’s population. The regulator was said to have issued the fine after it found TRMC had only reached 96.53% of the population with its mobile network by December 2019, with the conditions of its mobile licence stipulating the 98% coverage obligation should be achieved by April 2017.
