Albanian Parliament Urges AKEP to Boost Mobile Service Quality, Focus on Tourist Hotspots and Key Roads

 The Albanian Parliament has taken a decisive step toward addressing persistent issues with mobile communications service quality, particularly in the nation's burgeoning tourist zones and along critical road axes. In its resolution on the evaluation of the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP) for 2024 and its key recommendations for 2025, the Parliament has strongly advised AKEP to continue its rigorous monitoring of service quality indicators for mobile telephony. The emphasis is distinctly placed on areas where reliable connectivity is paramount: tourist destinations and major transport routes.

Albanian Parliament Urges AKEP to Boost Mobile Service Quality, Focus on Tourist Hotspots and Key Roads

The resolution specifically recommends that AKEP instruct the two main operators in the market to either deploy provisional base stations or optimize existing antennas in locations where signal coverage fails to meet optimal quality parameters. This move is a direct response to a recurring problem that significantly impacts the experience of both locals and visitors.

The Summer Scramble: Addressing Quality Gaps in Coastal Tourism

The quality of communication services, especially mobile internet, becomes a major sticking point, particularly during the summer season. Coastal tourism areas, which see a massive concentration of vacationers, frequently suffer from severe network congestion. This surge in demand leads to extremely slow mobile internet speeds, often escalating to a complete lack of service. For a country heavily investing in its tourism sector, this poor connectivity is a crucial barrier to a seamless visitor experience and efficient local business operations.

Beyond the coast, specific road sections, especially those running through rugged or difficult terrain, also experience problematic coverage gaps from mobile companies. This not only frustrates commuters and logistics operations but can also pose a serious safety risk in emergencies where communication is vital.

AKEP's Challenges and Operator Roadblocks
In its 2024 annual report, AKEP acknowledges that improving mobile service provision across the entire territory of the Republic of Albania necessitates the construction of new sites (mini-stations) by the operators. However, the report highlights significant difficulties faced by these companies. These roadblocks include bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining environmental permits, issues arising from the refusal of residents in buildings designated for new mini-station construction, and, surprisingly, the non-renewal of leases for existing mini-stations by state institutions.

Despite these challenges, AKEP confirms that cellular operators build stations every year to enhance service in tourist areas, beaches, and along road axes. Furthermore, in areas where current signal coverage is suboptimal, operators, following intervention from AKEP structures, have explored solutions such as optimizing existing antennas or deploying provisional stations. This temporary fix is intended to bridge the gap until the necessary new, dedicated stations for geographically isolated areas can be constructed, pending the required permits from relevant authorities.

Setting the Bar Higher: New Coverage Mandates

In a significant regulatory update, AKEP applied changes to the conditions for coverage and quality of service during the renewal of authorizations for certain frequencies in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands last year. These new requirements substantially raise the performance standards for operators.

Under the new stipulations, mobile operators are now required to ensure service coverage is reinforced to up to 99% of the population in inhabited areas for every region (qark), a considerable increase from the previous minimum of 95% specified in the former authorization.

Moreover, operators must ensure that service coverage across the entire territory of the Republic of Albania is a minimum of 95%. This mandate includes specific, high-standard requirements for key infrastructure:

► For the entirety of national road axes in categories A (motorways) and B (main interurban roads), tunnels, and areas included in development projects or of special importance, coverage must be over 99%.

► For road axes in category C and onwards, the minimum coverage must be over 96%.

► Crucially, for tourist areas (as defined by current legislation), coverage must reach up to 99%.

Accountability and Future Reporting

To ensure compliance and accountability, mobile operators are mandated to submit a detailed report to AKEP by February of each year, throughout the first five years following the issuance of the Individual Authorization. This report must comprehensively detail the progress in fulfilling the aforementioned coverage and service quality conditions, with particular attention given to areas that are currently uncovered.

 This aggressive push by the Albanian Parliament and AKEP signals a strong commitment to enhancing the digital infrastructure. Improving mobile service quality in these critical areas is not just a matter of convenience; it’s an essential investment in national safety, economic growth, and the continued success of the Albanian tourism industry. The coming years will demonstrate how effectively the operators can overcome existing hurdles and meet these newly imposed, ambitious quality standards. 

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