Before the War Current Situation Currently only 260,000 telephone connections and 400 international lines, many in poor condition, are working in Bosnia. This compares to about 375,000 and 4,000, respectively, before the war. The telex and data networks are no longer operative.
Human resources are very scarce, since many staff have left or have become refugees.
Most equipment documentation is destroyed. Reconstruction Massive technical assistance, to be coordinated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will be required to rehabilitate Bosnia's telecommunications. Donors should provide guarantees to private investors, covering both force majeure that might affect the physical assets as well as the sovereign risk and, with the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Government, develop as a matter of priority suitable licensing procedures and a regulatory framework. Introduce a mobile phone service to serve the needs of business and facilitate the reconstruction effort, including in areas not previously served by the fixed network. Reconfigure the telephone network to optimize it and to suit the needs of an independent country.