Formal Notification regarding the implementation of Country Codes (CC) assigned by ITU to Kosovo

Honorable Colleagues,

On behalf of the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (ARKEP), as a National Institution responsible for regulating the electronic communications market in the Republic of Kosovo, including the scarce resources (numbering and frequencies), I have the honor and privilege through this correspondence to formally inform you that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on December 15, 2016 assigned and published in the operational bulletin No.1114 international codes for Kosovo:

• E.164 Code (as defined in the ITU-T recommendation E.164): 383
• E.212 Code (as defined in the ITU-T Recommendation E.212): 221
• Q.708 Signaling Area/Network Code (SANC): 7-2014.

ARKEP, as a sole administrator of the Country Code, in close cooperation with the relevant stakeholders including ITU, is in the process of implementing these codes and introducing the important mechanisms for ensuring effective competition, including Number Portability. Furthermore, in line with the ITU Recommendations E.212 and Q.708, ARKEP has assigned the Mobile Network Codes (MNC) and International Signaling Point Codes (ISPC) to operators (mobile and fixed) that operate in Kosovo.

Taking into consideration the importance of implementing the above mentioned codes for the electronic communication sector and challenges of the process itself (replacement of SiM cards, new roaming agreements, etc.), after consultation with operators, ARKEP has approved the Migration Plan including the activities and timelines, which are summarized as follows:

1)      Until 01 of June 2018, the entire process of the implementation of the new code E.164: +383 should be concluded. After this date all other existing codes (currently +377, +381 and +386) that are used by fixed and mobile telephony networks should no longer be active in Kosovo (cannot be able to originate and terminate international traffic in Kosovo).

2)      By 31 December 2018, the implementation of MCC: 221 must be fully completed.

By taking advantage of this correspondence, we are kindly asking from your National Regulatory Authority (NRA) to take into consideration this Letter and inform (circulate it to) all operators in your country regarding these new codes and deadlines specified above, in order to as soon as possible open the routes and make possible sending and receiving the international traffic from/to Kosovo.

This would be a great support and help not only for the Operators, but also will contribute directly to electronic communications sector and finally our society.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest and most distinguished consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Kreshnik GASHI,

Chairman of the ARKEP