TIRANA, Oct.16- Telecom Slovenia announced that it has purchased 75 percent of the shares of Albania Online, a telecommunications operator and internet service provider in Albania . The purchase agreement includes a pledge by the Slovene company to invest 20 million euro in the next five years to expand and improve the range of services offered by the company to Albanian customers. Through this move, “Telecom Slovenia ” enters the Albanian telecommunications market, while previously providing services in the Macedonian and Kosovo markets. The company explains that it targets a consolidated ethnic Albanian market distributed in these three countries. Official data reveal that there are 285.000 customers of fixed line telephone services in Albania which yields an average of 1 customer per 9 inhabitants. This indicator of the market potential attracted the investors.
“Albania On Line”
“Albania On Line” has 3000 customers and offers internet services, accounting for 75 percent of the Albanian market. “Albania On Line” received its license as a rural operator in 2003. Media has recently attacked the company with accusations of corruption in collaboration with “Albtelekom” directors. Other claims have been referred to the Department of Internal Administrative Control and Corruption, claiming that fixed prices between the two companies have harmed fair competition in the markets and hurt the state budget as well. However, General Director of Albania On Line, Ylli Panariti, has denied these claims and has explained that there is an ongoing judicial process between “Albtelekom”-it and “Albania On Line”, which has been taken to the European Strasbourg court. ‘ Albania on Line’ directors in this proceeding claim that AlbTelekom has hurt the company during the period of 2002-2006 by not providing timely services as promised in its contracts.
