WBIF-backed broadband rollout to connect over 200,000 rural residents in Serbia by 2027
More than 212,000 residents in rural Serbia are set to gain access to high-speed internet by 2027, thanks to the Rural Broadband Rollout project, implemented with substantial support from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
The initiative will ensure that every school and household – even in the most remote areas – can benefit from fast, reliable connectivity, creating new opportunities for education, employment and economic development.
At the ceremonial launch of the project’s second phase on 8 December 2025 in Belgrade, Minister of Information and Telecommunications, Boris Bratina, announced that over 3,200 kilometres of fibre-optic routes will be constructed in the coming period, connecting around 470 villages with approximately 212,000 inhabitants.
This builds on the first phase, launched in September 2022, during which 1,600 kilometres of network infrastructure were installed across 400 settlements. In total, the project will bring high-speed internet to 700 primary schools and satellite units, with completion expected by September 2027.
“From Ada and Senta to Rekovac, Trgovište and Surdulica, we are bringing high-speed internet to every corner of Serbia and opening a new chapter in the country’s digital development”, said Minister Bratina. He called on local authorities to join national efforts to accelerate digital transformation and improve living standards in rural communities.
The project is implemented by the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications with strong financial and technical backing from the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through the Western Balkans Investment Framework. The total value for this second phase amounts to €135 million.
Matteo Colangeli, EBRD Regional Director for the Western Balkans, underlined the impact of connectivity on local enterprise: “High-speed internet in rural areas creates economic opportunities, especially for small businesses. The EBRD has invested €10 billion in Serbia through around 400 projects since 2001, half of it supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. This major infrastructure project will help them compete and grow, no matter where they are located.”
Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, emphasised the partnership’s contribution to modernising Serbia’s digital infrastructure: “Today we are taking an even bigger step forward with an additional €34 million in EU support and the activation of a €100 million EBRD loan, which will extend Serbia’s fibre-optic network deeper into rural areas where connectivity is most needed. Thousands of households are already experiencing the benefits of this investment – from new job opportunities to better public services and an improved quality of life.”
Local government representatives also welcomed the project’s progress. The Mayor of Kragujevac, Nikola Dašić, highlighted that Donje Grbice, the first village connected in the initial phase, has already seen tangible improvements. Works in eight additional rural settlements are planned, and seven schools in the Kragujevac area will soon benefit from high-speed internet. “Digital infrastructure is not a luxury but a foundation for the development of cities, municipalities and villages,” said Dašić.
WBIF Digital Sector Factsheet
About WBIF and Global Gateway
The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) contributes directly to Global Gateway, the EU’s strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport, while strengthening health, education and research systems worldwide. Global Gateway aims to mobilise up to €300 billion worldwide in investments through a Team Europe approach, bringing together the EU, its Member States and financial institutions to leverage investments for a transformational impact.