The Czech units of O2 and T-Mobile have confirmed that they shut down their 3G networks on 30^th November.

Polsat Plus Group in Poland has officially announced the completion of the merger of its two mobile network subsidiaries, Polkomtel, trading under the Plus brand, and Aero2.

Ukrainian fibre infrastructure and digital services provider Datagroup has tapped Cisco to modernise its backbone network.

Veon has closed the sale of its Russian mobile towers to local firm Service-Telecom, a partner of VimpelCom’s Beeline, for RUB70.65 billion (US$957 million).

North Macedonia’s Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK) has begun a tender process for 5G-ready spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz (3400MHz-3800MHz) bands.

Estonia’s parliament The Rigiikogu has approved new legislation that effectively bans the country’s operators from using network equipment from China’s Huawei.

Thirteen foreign technology firms have been reminded by Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor that they must set up in Russia by 2022. However, actual instructions on what they need to do to meet this mandate have been in short supply.

Latvia’s regulator SPRK (Sabiedrisko Pakalpojumu Regulesanas Komisija / Public Utilities Commission) has announced that it will hold auctions next month for 700MHz 5G-capable spectrum.

Romania has concluded its multi-band auction of 195MHz of available spectrum.

T-Mobile Polska, one of the largest mobile operators in Poland, has launched a long-haul 400 Gigabit Ethernet (400GbE) service.

Romania’s National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) confirmed that just two companies submitted qualifying bids to obtain short-term licences for spectrum in the 800MHz, 2600MHz and 3.5GHz bands.

UPC Poland, the provider of triple-play services in Poland, has signed a deal with the Polish energy company Tauron on the use of Tauron's network for providing services to customers.

Polish mobile phone network operator T-Mobile Polska (T-Mobile Poland) has launched a trial of 5G standalone (SA) services at a test environment in the city of Lodz and via two commercial base stations in Zambrow and Halinow.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s BH Telecom has selected Oracle’s Converged Charging System as it looks to revamp its prepaid product offerings and prepares to monetise 5G.

Albania’s telecoms regulator AKEP (Electronic and Postal Communications Authority) has signed a cooperation agreement with the country’s broadcast regulator AMA (Audiovisual Media Authority) on a number of issues including the release of 700MHz spectrum.

Telecoms giant Vodafone and leading Serbian operator Telekom Srbija have announced a new partnership agreement. It will cover Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

UPC Poland (UPC Polska), the largest cable television operator and a leading provider of triple-play services in Poland, has introduced 5G services to its subscribers in Poland.

Despite the Ukraine government announcing grand plans in November 2020 to enable the commercial launch of 5G mobile services by the end of 2021 (including a spectrum auction slated for October), there has been remarkably little evidence of any progress being made towards putting those plans into action.

Montenegrin regulator EKIP (Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services) has announced that it plans to hold an auction for 5G-ready spectrum in December.

Hungary's Innovation and Technology Ministry and Huawei Technologies Hungary signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on long-term cooperation in Budapest.

Russia’s MegaFon is spinning off its tower infrastructure into a new independent joint venture with the domestic tower firm Vertical.

Hungary’s 4iG has signed a final agreement with PPF Telecom Group to acquire 100% of Telenor Montenegro.

Lithaunia’s Communications Regulatory Authority (Rysiu Reguliavimo Tarnyba, RRT) has outlined its auction plans for 5G-ready 700MHz spectrum.

Ukraine is set to broaden the remit of its telecoms regulator NCCIR (National Commission for State Regulation of Communications & Informatization) as the country looks to align its legislation with Europe’s.

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s HT Mostar has signed new equipment deals with Croatia’s Ericsson Nikola Tesla (ENT) worth over HRK31 million (USD4.8 million).

Polish cellular telecommunications provider Play Communications SA (known as Play or P4) has signed a new agreement with Ericsson to expand its RAN (Radio Access Network).

Slovenian operator T-2 has awarded a 5-year 5G network contract to Nokia.

Orange Polska (Orange Poland), a Polish telecommunications provider, has launched a new data centre, the Warsaw Data Hub.

Hungary is launching a HUF5 billion (US$16 million) initiative to help consumers switch from 3G devices to 4G/5G smartphones.

The Slovak private equity fund Sandberg Capital has agreed with its joint venture partner DanubiaTel to sell its 50% stake in Swan, the country’s largest alternative telecommunications operator on the Slovak market.

Having announced a preliminary agreement in June, Hungary-based IT and ICT company 4iG has now confirmed that it is to buy Israeli satellite operator Spacecom.

Romanian regulator ANCOM has opened competitive bidding for short-term licences for the country’s unused mobile frequencies.

České Radiokomunikace, a telecommunications company in the Czech Republic, has entered into a strategic partnership with Vantage Towers, which manages approximately 4,000 broadcasting base stations in the country.