Can cables endanger the work of the BiH Parliament, 'm:tel' claims they are strengthening the 3G network

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The situation in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly building has not yet calmed down regarding the problems that arose when the Service for Joint Affairs of BiH Institutions, without the knowledge of the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, allowed the company "m:tel" to install telecommunications equipment, currently unknown, in the building of the highest legislative body in the country.

It is being said that the work of the highest legislative body in BiH is endangered, as a secure room and complete signal jamming are necessary for certain sessions of parliamentary committees.

Kenan Vehabović, Secretary of the Joint Service of the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PSBiH), stated for Patria that the Secretariat of PSBiH received a request from "m:tel" in September 2017 for consent to install mobile phone signal coverage inside the facility, but that such a request was never approved for the company.

- We will persevere in showing who approved the installation of such equipment and optical cables. There are no answers from the Service for Joint Affairs of BiH Institutions, although they will eventually have to explain to the Collegium of both houses what happened. There are no details about what was installed, how, or why... Not a single expert has yet said whether this might also be a burden on the ceilings. Is the safety endangered? These are all questions that someone will have to answer – said Vehabović.

In the Service for Joint Affairs of BiH Institutions, phone calls are redirected to the director's secretary, but no one answers, and they have not provided answers to written requests.

From "m:tel" they told Patria that it is "a standard procedure for installing equipment to strengthen the 3G network signal, so that the signal quality at the mentioned location is the same for users of all telecom operators".

- Indeed, equipment from other telecoms has been installed in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly building for many years, and it is our obligation to provide the same signal strength and quality for "m:tel" users, just as it is the obligation of PSBiH to ensure equal treatment of all telecom operators. Also, the procedure for strengthening 3G capacity is carried out in the same way at numerous locations, both in Sarajevo and throughout BiH – emphasize "m:tel".

Responding to the question of why they requested consent from the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH if they believe that equipment can only be installed with the consent of the Service for Joint Affairs of BiH Institutions, the company stated:

- The company "m:tel" sent a request for the realization of this activity in a timely manner and received the necessary consent issued by BiH institutions, after which the conceptual design was developed, and the equipment was installed. This involves the installation of a mobile telephony base station that enables optimal indoor 3G coverage. Your questions primarily relate to internal communication problems and responsibilities within the joint institutions of BiH services.

Vehabović added that they have informed the Service for Joint Affairs of BiH Institutions in writing about all of the above, requesting that in the future they must not allow access to locations used by PSBiH without prior notice and permission from the Collegium of the PSBiH Secretariat.