Regarding the article "Two more years without sky control from Bjelasica: Installation of NATO radar stalled due to Broadcasting Center equipment", published on June 4 on the Vijesti portal, in which the Ministry of Defense announced that the long-range surveillance radar that was supposed to be installed on Bjelasica by the end of 2024 will not be operational for at least another two years, because the Broadcasting Center's (RDC) telecommunications equipment must first be relocated from Bjelasica, the state-owned company responded.
"Having full understanding of the importance of installing the radar at the Zekova glava - Bjelasica location, not wanting to prevent or obstruct the implementation of this important project in Montenegro with any activity, we would like to point out the impact of abandoning this location (without building an adequate replacement location) on the functioning of the telecommunications network in Montenegro, as well as the operations of RDC.
The Zekova Glava transmission location is the most important transmission point for television, radio and mobile signal needs. According to the current Law on the National Public Broadcaster - Public Media Service of Montenegro, RDC is obliged to cover at least 98 percent of the population of Montenegro with RTCG signals through the so-called 'free to air' broadcasting, and the aforementioned coverage directly depends on broadcasting from the Zekova Glava location. With the shutdown of Zekova Glava, it will no longer be possible to transmit TV signals from locations in Lubnice, Crkvine, Velje Dubok, Liješanj, Redice, Međurječje, Štitarica and Kaludra. The non-broadcasting of signals from this location will also result in the cessation of broadcasting at other related locations, so the alternative solution of building several facilities will not provide even close signal coverage of the territory of Montenegro as from the Zekova Glava location.
The Zekova Glava location also broadcasts the program of Radio Montenegro (RCG) with an internationally coordinated frequency, and if the program is not broadcast from the Bjelasica location, residents of a large number of predominantly rural, mountainous and touristically attractive settlements will be left without a signal. If the RCG program is not broadcast, which is in some areas the only way to inform the local population, there will be no radio signal on main and regional roads in the north and parts of the highway.
In addition to the legal obligation to cover the territory of Montenegro with public service programs, we also highlight problems related to the functioning of the RDC transmission capacities, as well as mobile signals and the Tetra system, which are important for everyday communication of the population, assistance in cases of natural disasters, natural disasters, emergencies, etc.
Namely, at the Zekova Glava location, mobile operators have installed equipment that enables mobile communication for the population in northern Montenegro. By leaving this location, about three percent of the total territory of Montenegro will not have a mobile network signal, which will create problems in everyday communication of the population, assistance via the European emergency number 112, etc., so the state will have to ensure the rights of the residents of these areas in some other way.
Users of the Tetra system in Montenegro (MUP, UP, ANB, security services, CEDIS, mountain rescue services, etc.) will also experience problems in regular work, and especially in crisis situations.
Also, the abandonment of the Zekova Glava location and the reduction of mobile network signal coverage, especially in rural areas of Montenegro, will significantly affect the implementation of the Public Early Warning System (PSW), which is an obligation set out in the Law on Electronic Communications, and should be implemented in cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union, the relevant ministry and mobile operators. Fulfilling this legal obligation is the obligation of every EU member state.
Taking all of the above into account, the RDC has repeatedly proposed:
1. Construction of a new location - Troglava, which cannot fully replace the Zekova glava location, and which RDC found to be the best alternative solution that would provide approximately legally defined signal coverage. However, the competent authorities do not allow the construction of the aforementioned location because it is located in the national park zone.
2. Establishing mechanisms for the coexistence of military and civilian systems at the Zekova Glava location, ensuring the optimal functioning of both sectors. However, the Ministry of Defense did not agree with this proposal.
"We would like to point out once again that all projects that are strategically important for Montenegro, such as the installation of the radar on Zekova Glava in terms of security, are of priority importance for the RDC, but we hope that the Government and the relevant ministries will find a way to enable the construction of a new facility at the Troglava location, in order to largely compensate for the loss of the extremely important Zekova Glava location."
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