Telekom Serbia, Telenor not denying deal to destroy SBB

Under the alleged agreement Telekom Serbia would allow Telekom to use its resources and TV channels. Telekom has been accusing SBB of using media outlets to against its competition while Telenor says that it will obey the law and has no new products or services to offer. N1 has had access to documents showing that the goal of the contract that Telekom drew up is to destroy SBB and prevent it from investing in free media in Serbia. The plan was presented to Telekom Serbia’ top management late last year. N1 learned that the Telekom Executive Board confirmed the draft contract with Telenor at a December 1 meeting. The plan was disclosed by Telekom CEO Vladimir Lucic just before his predecessor Predrag Culibrk was dismissed.

Telekom Serbia has not replied to any question from N1 but did issue a statement denying any contract with Telenor which would be aimed at destroying SBB and free media.

“SBB is scared and believes that its market share could fall below 30 percent because of the expansion of Telekom Serbia, the best proof of the telecommunications company’s growth in the past two years. That makes it clear that the entire United Group campaign about the downfall of Telekom Serbia was based on lies,” the Telekom statement said.

The plan that N1 had access to shows that Telekom will be loser in this deal because it will give its capacities to Telenor for almost nothing. The main motive for this deal is obviously not money but the destruction of SBB as Lucic explained to his executive board.

Telenor did not give a concrete reply when asked if they understand the goal of the contract with the state-owned company. Instead, it issued a statement saying it has nothing new to offer. “We want to provide innovative, quality services to our clients to continue to develop the market and we are always look for opportunities to expand our offer. We will continue to operate in line with the law and positive Serbian regulations and the highest market standards. At this moment we have no concrete products or services to announce, nor any additional comments,” Telenor said.

The Telekom contract would allow Telenor to offer its clients all MTS TV channels.

The reports of a possible contract between Telekom Serbia and Telenor has drawn a flood of negative reactions on social media networks.

SBB is part of United Group which includes N1 TV.