The concentration of the mobile phone market in just two companies has not been slow to bring a bitter bill for Albanians. Official data from the National Authority for Electronic Communications shows that the average expenses that Albanian citizens make for telephony increased by a record 42.1 percent in the span of three years, increasing the annual bill by almost 30 euros per person.
Official data shows that the increase in mobile services came precisely after One bought Albtelekom, a purchase that practically destroyed competition in the country’s mobile phone market. Now the institutions themselves that approved the purchase admit that the duopoly is increasing prices at a rapid pace.
“After the merger of One with Albtelecom, the mobile services market operates with two operators, One Albania SHA and Vodafone Albania SHA, which has also brought changes to the structure of retail offers. During this period (2023-2025), a reduction in the number and variety of tariff packages has been observed, especially in the prepaid segment, accompanied by an increase in the prices of most standard packages and, in some cases, an increase in communication units, ” the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority states in a written communication with the Competition Authority.
AKEP also notes that lower-priced packages (500–600 lek) are no longer offered at physical points of sale, but only through the operators’ digital channels, while standard packages priced at 1,000–1,100 lek continue to have low internet content, steering consumers towards higher-priced packages.
Meanwhile, the Competition Authority itself admits that the two mobile companies already have a tacit coordination in raising prices.
“During the investigation period 1 January 2022 – 18 November 2025, the in-depth investigation revealed that Vodafone Albania SHA and One Albania SHA have followed commercial behavior with similar characteristics in relation to mobile service offers, including prepaid packages, post-paid packages and roaming services. The analysis resulted in: the prices of the packages have undergone progressive and approximate increases in time; the changes have been applied to the same or similar categories of services; high levels of similarity have been found in the structure and content of the offers. These elements have been repeatedly identified during the investigation period and reflect a high level of similarity in the commercial behavior of the undertakings in the relevant market,” the Competition Authority admits.
According to the CA, the chronological analysis of price changes and package structure shows that, in some cases, after changes undertaken by one undertaking regarding prices or package content, the other undertaking has reacted within close time intervals, applying similar changes in price level and in the offer structure (minutes, internet, SMS, validity, roaming, etc.).
But the Competition Authority says it cannot prove price-fixing agreements.
“During the investigation, no direct or indirect evidence was administered to prove the existence of contacts, communications, exchange of sensitive commercial information or a coordination mechanism between the companies regarding the determination of prices or commercial strategies,” says Konkurrenca./ kapitali.al