Nuba Invest: Optical cables by Law

Belgrade-based Nuba Invest announced that it had got the license for the construction of a telecommunication optical network alongside roads in Serbia in accordance with the Law.

Namely, the Anti-corruption Council claims that that company has been issued the license without a tender, which is in breach of the Law on Planning and Construction and the Law on Telecommunications.

In its response to the Council's claims, Nube Invest announces that, according to the applicable procedures, it is not necessary to carry out a tendering procedure for that type of installations.

- The Law on Telecommunications of Serbia, which was in force at the time when we were collecting licenses for the construction of a telecommunication network, prescribes organization of a public auction for the allotment of enumeration in the fixed and mobile telephony, and not for the data transfer via a network, including Internet and cable television - reads the statement issued by Nuba Invest.

According to the statement, Nuba Invest also operates in the surrounding countries where the procedure for obtaining necessary licenses is very similar and the company is also the owner of an up-to-date network of optical cables.

- With a prestigious technology and a modern approach to networking and direct connecting of Serbia with the surrounding countries, Nuba Invest meets all global standards and completely satisfies the needs of domestic population in the field of telecommunications - reads the company's statement.

The Anti-corruption Council previously asked from the Government of Serbia to examine the procedure for issuing of licenses to Nuba Invest for the installation of an optical cable and stated that it was unusual that that job had been given to an unknown, newly formed company.

It was also pointed out that that company had neither been in the telecommunications business nor licensed by Ratel until the moment it had entered aforementioned deal.

The Council is of the opinion that it is important that the Government of Serbia carries out the control of work of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and public company Putevi Srbije in order to determine their role and responsibility in the procedure for issuing the license to Nuba Invest.