The telecommunications sector in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is undergoing significant transformation. Historically seen as secondary markets, countries like Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Croatia are now experiencing accelerated growth, with telecoms playing an increasingly strategic role in national economies. Between 2019 and 2024, the sector's share in gross value added (GVA) rose from 4.6% to 5.3%, reflecting the growing importance of broadband, mobile services, and data infrastructure, with Romania leading the region in sectoral contribution and Poland trailing due to its larger, diversified economy .
Regional operators such as PPF Telecom and 4iG are expanding across multiple markets, creating cross-border structures that challenge traditional national boundaries. This trend is reshaping the market from purely national operators to more integrated regional players . For example, 4iG acquired a majority stake in ALBtelecom Mobile in Albania, consolidating its presence in the Western Balkans . Governments and investors increasingly treat telecom infrastructure as a strategic asset, influencing ownership and investment decisions .
CEE operators are leveraging their relatively less complex legacy systems to adopt cloud-native and AI-managed networks, accelerating the deployment of next-generation infrastructure. Investments in 5G networks, fibre rollouts, and edge computing are supported by EU programs, including Recovery and Resilience Plans, which have significantly boosted network modernization . Countries like Slovenia have launched 5G Standalone (5G SA) services, while operators in Ukraine and Serbia are expanding 5G and renewable energy-linked infrastructure .
Investment remains robust, with Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic capturing the largest shares of regional capital flows. Operators are increasingly separating infrastructure from services, using shared platforms and partnerships to unlock capital and accelerate deployment . Strategic investments in data corridors and connectivity routes are positioning CEE as a transit and integration layer between Western Europe, the Balkans, and beyond .
Despite strong momentum, the region faces challenges such as under-utilized 5G spectrum, rural infrastructure gaps, regulatory fragmentation, and low monetization of digital services . However, the combination of policy alignment with EU digital targets, investor confidence, and the rise of cross-border operators is creating a dynamic environment for growth and innovation .
The CEE telecom sector is expected to continue its expansion-focused trajectory, contrasting with Western Europe's optimization-driven approach. The region is emerging as a hub for AI-driven network deployment, cross-border consolidation, and strategic digital infrastructure, making it a key player in Europe's evolving telecom landscape .
Sweden has 14.3 million subscribers in total, approximately 140% penetration rate (2020). The country''s telcom regulator is Swedish Post and Telecom Authority. There are four main network operators, and they share various 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G network infrastructure through co-ownership in separate network companies. Tele2 and Telenor share network infrastructure through their company Net4Mobility. Telia a
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