Our network is green, safe and fast

At the time, the pioneer generations of networks focused on voice traffic, while today the accent is on Internet usage, mobile applications, and multimedia communications. Internet is an integral part of our lives, we cannot do without it.

Nevertheless, it's not enough just for data to transfer through the network in a flash. Operators are also increasingly investing in other aspects, such as security, capacity, reliability and other characteristics. We talked to Saša Filipović, Chief Commercial Officer at Yettel as to how far they have come in network development, but also about their recycling programme, as well as other subjects.

• How should a modern mobile network look like today and what are its characteristics? What are customers' expectations, what do they demand and expect when it comes to the mobile signal?

What we have been noticing for quite some time is that expectations are constantly growing, and that customers in Serbia are no different in this aspect from customers anywhere in the world. They want to download and stream content, have a seamless quality network, regarding both voice and Internet, and have a strong and stable signal, wherever they may be. That means speed, quality and coverage. All three operators in Serbia have worked for a long time to ensure a fast network with sufficient capacity, for data transfer to “fly“, and I think that together we have all done a great job. What we have been insisting on for some time now is developing other network aspects. That’s why we are exceptionally proud of the fact that recently, for the fifth year in a row, we received the UMLAUT Best in Test recognition for the best network in test.

That is precisely how I see the modern mobile network today, as one where funds are constantly invested, where work is equally done on the development of all its characteristics. I’ll give you an example: we know that our customers also use mobile Internet for various transactions, which often include personal data. It is very important that they are safe while doing that, that they do not have to think whether they will be targeted by a hacker attack. That is why we have developed “Safe Net”, which identifies and blocks malicious web locations and protects customers from Internet scams. With this, we have done a lot regarding the security of network, which is also an important component if you want to have the best network.

• You have recently disclosed that you are a 100 percent green network. What does that exactly mean and why is it important? Do you already notice the advantages of using renewable energy sources?

Yes, of course, we do notice. Here I have to emphasise that being a green network is not a new direction in Yettel or something we have started working on just recently. For example, more than ten years ago, we removed plastic bags from use in our shops and introduced paper ones. Instead of a paper bill, we offer our customers the option of receiving an e-bill, having saved over 7,000 trees with this, in theory. Our target is to have one million customers opt for the e-bill by the year 2025.

In other words, we are constantly looking for what we can do on our own, and how to include the customer. It is important for us that for supplying our network we are using electric power that exclusively comes from renewable energy sources. In this way, apart from quality, stability and safety, we have added an ecological aspect to our network.

Azfar Shah i Aleksandar Mitrović/ Foto: Promo/ Ivan Zupanc

• And what about recycling? We know that this programme is very popular among your customers. How far have you reached with this program and what are the results?

The results are truly impressive. Several days ago, we reached half a million recycled devices, and as a result we have awarded those who have recycled the most, as well as our half-millionth customer. Interestingly, we have people who brought in 70 or 80 devices, because they simply did not know what to do with them or how to recycle them adequately, while we provided a concrete solution.

From the start of the recycling program in 2021, together with our customers we have disposed of more than 45 tons of e-waste. By recycling, nearly 510 thousand devices, 7.4 tons of copper, 169 kg of silver, 12 kg of gold and 7 kg of palladium were reused. Here too, our target is one million, which is the number of recycled devices we wish to reach by the year 2025.

What we have learned is that ecological awareness in Serbia is growing and that people gladly join in when a simple and concrete solution is offered. We have noticed this as well when we enabled our customers the activation of Eco Bonus within their packages, after which the operator authorised for waste management collects and recycles plastic and paper in the amount one person makes on average in Serbia. And that amount is – according to assessments – 6.8kg of waste each month. In other words, the impact we can all make together on the environment is huge.

(Telegraf.rs/PR)