Hungarian technology company 4iG has chosen Ericsson for the deployment of a next-generation mobile network in Albania, following the recent acquisition of 5G frequencies by 4iG subsidiary One Albania.
One Albania has already launched commercial 5G services, doing so in November of last year.
In 2023, 4iG completed the merger of its Albanian telecom units ALBtelecom and ONE Telecommunications to create One Albania.
4iG noted that it wants to build on this launch after acquiring new 5G frequencies for €5.4 million ($5.5m) during a recent tender.
The company said it will make further investments in Ericsson's network assets in the coming years to fully utilize 5G.
4iG said its strategy is in line with the Hungarian 4iG Group’s strategy to encourage investments in Albania and the Western Balkans.
“Today we are launching another long-term collaboration with Ericsson, which has long been our strategic technology partner in Albania. 4iG Group, as a regional info-communications player, has a strong presence in the Western Balkans, and Albania is one of our most important markets. That is why we take legal and political aspects into account in all our significant, strategic decisions,” said Péter Fekete, CEO of 4iG Group.
According to 4iG, the first part of its network development investment worth €50m ($51.5m), will focus on delivering high-coverage 5G across key strategic areas, including major ports and airports, industrial zones, key hospital areas in Tirana, and the most visited coastal locations.
Later in the decade, 4iG said it will deploy high-capacity mid-band 5G services in all cities in the country by 2028, with 85 percent population coverage by the end of 2030.
"By deploying a 5G network, we will enable faster, more reliable, and more sustainable digital connectivity, paving the way for the introduction of next-generation services," added Antonio Passarella, head of Ericsson Western Balkans
"Our collaboration with One Albania – a subsidiary of the 4iG Group – supports the ever-changing needs of both consumers and businesses as the demand for high-performance networks increases."
In October, 4iG completed its entrance into another Balkan market, North Macedonia, where it established One Macedonia Telecommunications as a new carrier.
Founded as Freesoft in 1990, Budapest Stock Exchange-listed 4iG provides a number of IT services including software development, managed services, and cybersecurity, as well as data center and cloud management offerings. In recent years, the company has expanded into new areas, founding its own satellite firm and buying both local satellite and telecoms firms.
4iG acquired Vodafone's Hungarian operations in 2022.
