Makedonski Telekom

Formation of Makedonski Telekomunikacii

AD Makedonski Telekomunikacii was introduced on 1 January 1997 as a state-owned company independent of the Post Office. The predecessor of the Company which provided telecommunication, postal, banking and other services in the Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia) under the name PTT Makedonija was divided into two legal entities: AD Makedonski Telekomunikacii and AD Makedonski Posti. This resulted in the separation of postal operations from those of telecommunications and telegraphy, as well as in the separation of the relevant assets and liabilities. In March 1998, the company was registered as a Joint Stock Company in public ownership in order to prepare for privatization.

Privatization

The privatization took place on 15 January 2001, when the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and a consortium led by the Hungarian telecommunications provider, Matav, signed a contract for the acquisition of Makedonski Telekomunikacii shares whereby Matav entered Makedonski Telekomunikacii shareholders register as the owner of 51% of the shares and thus became the dominant owner of the company. Since October 2008, the government still holds a stake in company stock directly.

On 1 June 2001, a mobile phone provider T-Mobile Macedonia (formerly Mobimak) began functioning as a separate legal entity (daughter company).

Re-branding

On May 1, 2008, AD Makedonski Telekomunikacii officially became part of the Deutsche Telekom global family, accepting the new "T" brand. From this date onwards the company runs as a legal subject under the name Makedonski Telekom, Joint Stock Company for Electronic Communications – Skopje or under the abbreviated name, Makedonski Telekom AD – Skopje. With the implementation of the "T" brand, which was umbrella of the two now terminated sub-brands T-Home and T-Mobile, Makedonski Telekom took over Deutsche Telekom Group’s corporate identity and design, launching on the market a series of new products and services, among which the attractive Double Play and Triple Play offers.

Consolidation and termination of T-Mobile and T-Home (July–September 2015)

Makedonski Telekom and T-Mobile Macedonia as of 1 July officially became one company. The Resolution was adopted on the Shareholders’ Assembly held on 17 June by accepting the Accession Agreement.

As of 1 July, T-Mobile Macedonia ceased to exist as a legal entity, whereas all employees, and the total assets and liabilities were taken over by Makedonski Telekom.

On 3 September 2015 Makedonski Telekom announced that the company will terminate the two product brands T-Home and T-Mobile and introduce one brand - Telekom, under whose umbrella, the company will continue to offer its whole service portfolio intended for consumer and business customers.

Makedonski Telekom is the dominant fixed and mobile line operator in the market of North Macedonia; it also operates as an Internet service provider, and as integrated telecommunications and entertainment services provider.

Offering communication services and entertainment contents ensuring its future revenues, the company is also improving the competitiveness in North Macedonia, as well as growth in mobile and broadband services on national level.

Mobile line operator

The company has been active in the mobile telephone business since September 1996, when it was introduced as MobiMak when it was the first GSM mobile operator in the Republic of Macedonia. It was bought by Deutsche Telekom and in 2006 changed its name to Т-Mobile. In 2015 it changed its name to Makedonski Telekom, synchronising itself with other Deutsche Telekom group members.

The network covers 99.9% of the population and over 98.5% of the territory of North Macedonia.

Wiretapping scandal and aftermath

A large-scale wiretapping scandal shaked the Republic of Macedonia in 2015.

High politicians and employees of the Security and Counterespionage Agency were charged with abusing their position.

Macedonian Special Prosecution declared that Makedonski Telekom failed to cooperate with the investigation.

In the aftermath Deutsche Telekom ordered Magyar Telekom to conduct an internal investigation. The internal investigation's findings were not made public.