Mts (Telekom Srbija)


Mts, doing business as Telekom Srbija a.d. Beograd, is a Serbian telecommunications company headquartered in Belgrade. The company offers a range of fixed-line, mobile, and internet communication services in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Austria. In April 2015, Telekom Srbija started providing all services in Serbia under the mts brand.

History

Telekom Srbija was established in 1997 by restructuring of PTT sistema Srbije public enterprise, as a single-member joint-stock company. The company sold 49% of its share capital the same year for 1.568 billion Deutsche marks. The ownership structure at the time consisted of PTT Traffic Serbia, Telecom Italia and OTE.

2003–2015

In 2003, PTT held an 80% share after repurchasing Telecom Italia's stake in the company. By 2007, Telekom Srbija expanded operations into Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
In 2012, Greek telecommunications provider OTE sold its 20% stake back to Telekom Srbija for 380 million euros. On 3 May 2012, the Government of Serbia transferred ownership of 6.94% of capital shares to current and former employees of Telekom Srbija, and 14.95% of shares to citizens of Serbia.

2015–present

On 6 January 2015, Telekom Srbija acquired a 55.8 percent of shares in the Dunav banka, becoming its majority owner. Afterwards, the bank changed its name to "mts banka".
As of 2016, it is the largest broadband internet provider and the second largest cable television provider in Serbia.
In November 2018, Telekom Srbija bought domestic cable operator "Kopernikus Technology" for 190 million euros. The transaction made public outrage in Serbia as Kopenikus' market worth at the time of purchase was several times lower than the amount it was purchased for; it was also revealed that major stakeholder in company was a close relative to ruling Serbian Progressive Party officer. Month later, Kopernikus' former owner used much of that money for the purchase of B92 and Prva Srpska Televizija, two television networks with national coverage.
On 6 January 2019, Telekom Srbija acquired domestic cable operators Radijus Vektor and "AVcom", in a transaction worth 120 million euros.
In July 2019, Telekom Srbija acquired another regional cable operator "Telemark". Later in July, Euronews and HD-WIN signed a deal to launch the "Euronews Serbia" news channel.

Services

Mobile telephony

Mobile Telephony of Serbia was founded in June 1997 as the mobile telephone subdivision of Telekom Srbija which was established the same year by restructuring of PTT sistema Srbije public enterprise, as a single-member joint-stock company. Mobile Telephony of Serbia started operating in August 1998. By that time, Mobile Telephony of Serbia introduced a slogan called "imate prijatelje!".
In late 2006, the latest 3G technology was introduced. Telekom Srbija acquired a 65% controlling stake in Telekom Srpske for 646 million euros the same year, outbidding Telekom Austria with an offer of 467 million euros. The following year, Telekom Srbija expanded operations into Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Mobile Telephony of Serbia's network had 4,121,025 subscribers in December 2014.
In 2015, mts as a brand was launched taking over the mts abbreviation used previously for Mobile Telephony of Serbia ', but it does not carry that meaning and is a brand in itself. In 2015, it changed its slogan to "Tvoj svet". Beforehand, Telekom Srbija acquired a 55.8 percent of shares in the Dunav banka, becoming its majority owner.

Mobile network technology

The Mobile Telephony of Serbia signal covers 92.00% of Serbia's inhabited territory and 89.13% of Serbia's land area. Company has 1.521 active base transceiver stations. The International Mobile Subscriber Identity Network Code of Mobile Telephony of Serbia is 220-03 and Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number Network Codes are 064, 065 and 066.

Fixed-line telephony

Telekom Srbija formerly held a monopoly on all land-line services in Serbia until 2010, when Telenor Serbia became the second land-line operator in the country.

Internet

Mts offers cable television as well as satellite television under the brand m:sat TV in Serbia and Montenegro.

Arena Sport

Telekom Srbija is the majority owner of sports television channels Arena Sport which broadcast in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

Areas served

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Telekom Srbija acquired a 65% controlling stake in Telekom Srpske for 646 million euros in 2006. outbidding Telekom Austria with an offer of 467 million euros. Telekom Srbija also broadcast cable channel Arena Sport 1,2,3 and 4.

Montenegro

Telekom Srbija started its operations on July 16, 2007, after the company gained license as a third mobile operator as a part of the consortium with Ogalar B.V. company. The consortium offered for the license the sum of €16 million. The name for this subsidiary is m:tel, and is owned 51% by Telekom Srbija.

Telekom Srbija also broadcasts cable channel Arena Sport 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Kosovo

Telekom Srbija is allowed legally to operate across Kosovo using the country's national dialing code +383 since a 2015 agreement between both countries. Currently the network covers only the northern part of Kosovo with a market share of 1.65% behind ipko and vala

Share capital structure

As of 3 May 2012: