Serbia opens DTT multiplex auction
July 20, 2026 12.41 Europe/London By Julian Clover


Serbia’s regulator RATEL has opened a public bidding process for digital terrestrial television multiplex licences in the 470-694 MHz band.

The licences cover UHF bands IV and V and will be used for the formation of MUX1, MUX2 and MUX5 for the distribution of DTT services across Serbia. RATEL will issue up to three individual spectrum licences, each valid for 10 years with the possibility of renewal.

Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2026, while bidding documents must be purchased by July 31. The auction will be held over several business days, with qualified bidders notified at least five days before it begins.

The licences will be awarded on the basis of the highest bid for each multiplex. Starting prices have been set at RSD 1 million for MUX1 and RSD 5 million each for MUX2 and MUX5. The winning fee will be paid in two instalments, with 20% due within 15 days of the award decision and the remaining 80% by June 30, 2027.

RATEL requires bidders to have at least five years’ experience in building and managing an electronic communications network for digital TV distribution and broadcasting. If a bidder is not already an existing network operator in Serbia, it must also have an agreement with an existing domestic DTT network operator.

The tender follows public consultations earlier this year on the rulebook setting minimum requirements for licences in the 470-694 MHz band.

Serbia completed its digital switchover in 2015, using the DVB-T2 standard. The country’s DTT infrastructure is operated by public enterprise Emisiona Tehnika i Veze, ETV, which says its network of more than 230 transmission sites provides population coverage of around 98.5%.

MUX1 is used for public service and national commercial broadcasters, while MUX2 carries regional and local services. The country has also used multiplex capacity for pay-TV services.

The new process comes as European regulators continue to manage the UHF broadcast band following the transfer of the 700 MHz band to mobile broadband in many markets, while preserving 470-694 MHz for terrestrial broadcasting under current spectrum arrangements.