In the public debate on the rising cost of living — food, fuel, or housing — one category is almost never mentioned, even though we use it every second: the internet.
In the digital era, mobile phones and internet access are no longer just accessories of modern life. Internet has become the infrastructure that supports businesses, schools, healthcare, government services, payments, public administration, and our everyday communication. But do we truly appreciate the value of internet connectivity and the continuous improvements required to increase its speed and quality?
It is no coincidence that countries with strong economies are aggressively investing in their networks. Japan, for example, reported at the end of last year that it had broken the world record for internet speed, reaching 1.02 petabits per second — enough to download the entire Netflix library in just one second.
The internet has become the “new highway” of development, just like roads, ports, and energy were in previous decades.
A citizen connected to the internet learns more, works better, and accesses services faster. A business connected to the internet increases productivity, exports, and expands its market. From online retail and customer service centers to the growing number of young people working remotely, mobile networks and fiber optics are the foundation of the modern economy.
In a market where citizens expect faster internet, full coverage, and affordable packages, a common question arises: are we paying too much?
The data tells a different story. According to Ookla 2025, Albania ranks second in the Balkans for average mobile internet speed, with 104 Mbps, and offers fixed broadband speeds of 86.4 Mbps, very close to the European average. Meanwhile, average monthly mobile bills of €10–€12 remain among the lowest in the region and significantly lower than those paid by consumers in many other European countries.
But what lies behind the monthly bill?
To operate 24 hours a day, operators continuously invest in infrastructure, antennas, fiber optics, software, cybersecurity, and imported equipment, while the costs of energy, technological equipment, permits, and spectrum licenses increase every year.
Vodafone Albania alone reports:
- €40 million in annual capital investments
- Approximately 4,900 km of fiber-optic network installed nationwide
- 28 GWh of annual energy consumption
- More than 800 direct employees and over 3,000 indirect employees in the Albanian economy
These figures show that the telecommunications sector is among the largest private investors in the country, with every euro invested remaining within Albania. This stands in stark contrast to international platforms such as social media companies, which generate revenue from Albanian users without investing anything domestically.
In many countries, political or public pressure for lower tariffs appears to be a victory for consumers. In reality, the opposite happens: networks begin to deteriorate, investments in new technologies slow down, exposure to cyberattacks increases, and the country falls behind technologically. For the telecommunications industry, a “fair” price is one that guarantees quality today and development tomorrow.
If prices are forced below a sustainable economic threshold, Albania risks losing ground to neighboring and European countries within a few years.
From Tirana to Brussels, telecommunications is a strategic sector, closely intertwined with public policy. The same debates are taking place within the European Union, where telecom has increasingly become a matter of national security.
Although Albania is not yet part of the EU, it is digitally integrating into the same system. This means that the standards adopted today must be those that will protect the country tomorrow.
As a result, the future becomes more expensive than the present. Digital usage is growing at a rapid pace; investments in 5G networks are far greater than those made in 4G; cybersecurity costs are now as critical as those of policing or defense; and the upcoming “roam like at home” regime with the EU, expected to enter into force this year, will significantly reduce operators’ revenues without reducing their obligations.
Therefore, instead of asking “are we paying too much?”, the real question should be:
“Are we paying enough to guarantee a competitive and secure digital infrastructure for Albania, in the interest of all citizens?”
Today, the telecommunications network is the nervous system of society. Businesses, schools, healthcare, exports, payments, public administration, and the diaspora all function through digital networks. The monthly bill we pay is our contribution to building a digital, competitive, and successful Albania. More than focusing on the bill itself, accountability should be sought in the service we receive — its quality, speed, and coverage.
Source
Translated and adapted from:
Ekofin.al – “A është interneti i shtrenjtë në Shqipëri? Të dhënat, investimet dhe realiteti”
🔗 https://ekofin.al/a-eshte-interneti-i-shtrenjte-ne-shqiperi-te-dhenat-investimet-dhe-realiteti/
SIPËRMARRJA 
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