About KTTN

The after-war-period found Kosova without terrestrial telecommunications system. No buildings at the sites, no towers, transmitters, or other related equipment were left. Kosova was – disconnected.

Kosova Terrestrial Telecommunications Network (KTTN) is created and built as a part of the USAID funded Kosova Independent Media Project (KIMP), managed and implemented by IREX/Kosova. A valuable contribution of KFOR, UNMIK, OSCE and Government of Japan (through UNDP), has also helped in its supplying and equipping.

Planning, construction and exploitation of the KTTN resources represents a huge, difficult and expensive venture. Its role, its function and its importance are also – significant. KTTN covers over 2/3 of Kosovar population, providing broadcasting services for 3 TV stations (TV21, KTV, RTK) and 4 radio stations (Radio 21, Radio Dukagjini and both Radio Kosova channels).

KTTN’s equipment and its services are being used by other organizations, as well. Mobile telephony services, speed data carrying and Internet providing – are also KTTN’s possibilities.

KTTN system consists of 6 sites all around Kosova and a hub site in the city of Prishtina. Its infrastructure allows 24-hours-a-day operation: there are roads built up to each site, all the sites have their own high power electrical lines and all the sites are provided with appropriate generators and fuel tanks with considerable capacity of over 25000 liters.

KTTN is registered at UNMIK authorities as an NGO. Its statute determines KTTN as a not-for-profit organization, “… founded [i] to serve the public interest of the people of Kosova, by establishing and maintaining the equipment necessary for Kosova-wide television and radio broadcasting and making that equipment and related services available on a professional, non-partisan and non-discriminatory basis to broadcasters licensed to provide such service, enabling those broadcasters to reach an even greater number of the residents of Kosova; and [ii] to the extent consistent with the foregoing, to make that equipment and related services available to other users”.

Currently, KTTN employs 23 people and operates under USAID provided budget. Its plans for the future are very ambitious and optimistic. KTTN has already made a big step towards its financial self-sustainability: a serious and long-term agreements are reached with many companies and organizations, for leasing space on KTTN towers and other facilities in all KTTN sites (radio communications, internet providing, speed data carrying, etc.).