LJUBLJANA, Slovenia -- Telekom Slovenije signed a agreement on the purchase of a 75 percent share in AOL SP (Albanian Online Service Provider), a privately-held Albanian company with headquarters in Tirana. The company is one of the leading alternative internet and telecommunications services providers in the country. This acquisition gives Telekom Slovenije access to the emerging Albanian electronic communications market, which is only starting to develop. Telekom Slovenije will invest 18 to 20 million EUR into the development of AOL SP in the next five years.

With the acquisition of AOL SP, Telekom Slovenije has completed its regional presence in Kosovo, Macedonia, and Albania, which will contribute to a more efficient and successful presence on these markets. The acquisition is especially important for the development of the Albanian market of electronic communications, which is now in its first stages and is expected to soar according to world trends. Telekom Slovenije plans to transfer its knowledge, experiences, technologies, and services to the subsidiary. The potential for high growth is enormous, as there is only approximately 285,000 phone lines in Albania, which is 9 lines per 100 citizens.

AOL SP is among the leading providers of Internet and VoIP services, and the only one enabling access to an independent optical and wireless network. In addition to its own network, the company also leases network capacities from the incumbent carrier Albtelecom. The company's biggest competitive advantages on the Albanian market are its customer base, DSL/cable infrastructure, the fiber-optics and wireless network and its acquired licenses and permits. The company has 3,000 subscribers for all of its services. Together AOL has 3,000 internet subscribers, which is 75 percent of the Albanian market. AOL SP is also an 88% shareholder of the Albanian Fiber Backbone (AFB), which operates the largest fiber-optics network in Tirana, and has PoP terminals also in other Albanian cities, connected to the network through VPN connections.

Telekom Slovenije