January 2000

FYR Macedonia Master Report

The following report outlines new developments in the past three months and the state of on-going developments. Implementation of satellite broadcasting. Implementation of the Numbering Plan of the Telecommunication Networks.

I. General background

1. Broadcasting Council of Republic of Macedonia (http://www.srd.org.mk/)

At its latest meeting, the government of the Republic of Macedonia has adopted the suggestion of the Broadcasting Council to prolong the due date for payment of the broadcasting concessions. 37 concessionaires have partially paid their duties and 28 concessionaires have not paid anything in this year. Therefore, according the Broadcasting Activity Law (www.srd.org.mk/bc/codes.htm) the government is to withdraw the granted concesions and to announce a new tender for concessions.

The government is in the initial phase of the implementation of satellite broadcasting in the Republic of Macedonia. Macedonian Telecommunications have provided a special stellate antenna for this purpose. Macedonian broadcasting enterprise will make a contract to 24-hour distribution of radio and TV programmes through HOT BIRD 5 satellite channel.

2. Regulatory framework

2.1 Issues: Licensing

According the Telecommunications Act the minister for transport and communications brought a Numeration Plan of the Telecommunication Networks in the Republic of Macedonia. The Numbering Plan is compatible with the E.164 Recommendation of the International Telecommunication Union. It regulates the distribution and usage of numbers, series of numbers, names and addresses of the public telecommunication networks and the public telecommunication services. An extensive activity of implementation of the plan is in progress.