UBT Ranks Kosovo First in the Region for the Deployment of the 5G Network
08/01/2026Kosovo has become home to the first university campus to install the global 5G network, located at UBT’s Innovative Science Park in Lipjan, through an agreement between UBT and the Finnish telecommunications company Nokia.
At a solemn ceremony, held under the patronage of UBT Rector Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi, the inauguration of the deployment of the fifth generation of wireless cellular network technology – 5G – took place.
Participants in this ceremony, held virtually, included the Ambassador of the Embassy of Finland in Kosovo, Pia Stjernvall; the representative of the telecommunications company Nokia, David Pavlinic; and the professor from UBT’s Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, Xhafer Krasniqi. Physically present were representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister, ARKEP, the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science, Technology, Innovation, Culture, Youth and Sports, representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, representatives from the Office of the UN Development Coordinator, managers of the Training Park in Prizren, representatives of Telecom of Kosovo, representatives of the German Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the Business Chamber, representatives from various companies, as well as other representatives and participants from local institutions.
In opening the ceremony, UBT Rector Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi said that UBT is introducing a new technology in Kosovo, which now completes an ecosystem called the “Place-Based Innovation Ecosystem.”
“We believe that we have now created an ecosystem that we call the ‘Place-Based Innovation Ecosystem,’ where, in addition to 5G technology, we have also established a virtualization center based on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. When we bring all these components together, this represents an investment of around 50 million euros, most of which comes from our 20-year investment, but we have also had investments from other partners—in this case, from companies with which we have created a kind of joint venture framework,” said Rector Hajrizi.
Virtually, the Ambassador of the Embassy of Finland in Kosovo, Pia Stjernvall, said that she feels happy about this achievement by UBT, emphasizing that UBT has made extraordinary progress that has greatly helped promote Kosovo in the international arena.
“I am very proud that you are managing to bring this project to life within a university and that you are trying to find the best ways to utilize the 5G network. There are many positive things that can be done with 5G. Students at your university are truly privileged because they can also see other opportunities,” said the Ambassador of the Embassy of Finland in Kosovo, Pia Stjernvall.
The representative of the Finnish telecommunications company Nokia, David Pavlinic, said that UBT is without a doubt the first institution in the region to deploy a private 5G network, while expressing Nokia’s full support for UBT and Kosovo in the field of technology and innovation.
“The 5G network is important because it is moving the entire industry, government, and all sectors into the era of digitalization, into Industry 4.0. Nokia is here to support you, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation with UBT and to supporting all of Kosovo in the era of digitalization,” emphasized David Pavlinic.
From London, UBT professor Xhafer Krasniqi virtually delivered a presentation to the participants of the ceremony on the implementation period of the newest wireless cellular network technology at UBT, 5G.
He stated that UBT deployed the 5G network to utilize the capabilities of this technology, allowing students and researchers to test and experiment with various research ideas and solutions without the need for simulations and without having to wait for the full rollout of the 5G network.
Board member of the Regulatory Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (ARKEP), Rrezarta Duraku Rizaj, emphasized that initiatives such as UBT’s promote innovation and greatly help younger generations to further develop professionally in the field of digital technologies, and potentially in other fields as well.
“Such initiatives promote innovation and enable younger generations to closely observe how the newest technologies in the world function. As a representative of ARKEP, I can say that we have also made a contribution by allowing the use of frequency bands necessary for the operation of this laboratory, with the exception of the 700 MHz band, which is currently occupied by broadcasting services,” said ARKEP board member Rrezarta Duraku Rizaj.
The Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minister, Luan Dalipi, said that the development of technology and innovation is the only alternative we have as a society, and that institutions such as UBT show how innovative work should be done without waiting for the government to push things forward.
The Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science, Technology, Innovation, Culture, Youth and Sports, Ardian Gola, said that UBT is one of the main contributors that has restored academic, scientific, and innovative culture to higher education institutions, while highly valuing the achievement of implementing 5G as one of the digital revolutions that follows the industrial and technological revolution.
Member of the Parliament of Kosovo, Jahja Kokaj, in his remarks said that today’s achievement of Kosovo through UBT in 5G technology is very emotional, thanking Rector Hajrizi for his tireless commitment to being the first in the region in wireless cellular network technology, 5G.
With this extraordinary achievement, UBT includes among its 20 innovations marking its 20th anniversary one of the most sophisticated technologies of our time, thereby creating even greater space and support for all young innovators to build a knowledge-based society supported by research, development, and innovation.