FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
In August 2025, the National Agency for the Information Society (AKSHI) announced the tender for the internet service for all Albanian public institutions. An essential service, on which not only the functioning of the digital administration, but also the cyber security of the state depends.
For the period 2023-2025, 19 million euros were spent on this service, while for the years 2026-2028 the fund was reduced to 4.8 million euros. This amount does not even cover 25% of current needs. With this amount, Albania risks the lack of basic services, from car registration at the DPSHTRR, to disability pensions, customs or hospitals, to very easy exposure to a cyber attack paralyzing the entire state and putting all Albanian data at risk.
First round, a total failure
No offers were made in the first round of the procedure.
The reason? AKSHI requested 3 times more internet with 4 times less funds. An impossible equation that automatically leads the tender to failure.
Second round, winner without capacities; selection of operators who do not meet criteria
In the re-announced procedure, MCN Networking, DIGIcom/ATU, ABISSNET participated in the competition. All three operators offered prizes close to the limit fund and were declared winners. MCN, which is mentioned in the thousand-page AKSHIT file in SPAK, offered 3.4 million euros, Digicom 3.7 million euros, and ABISSNET 4.6 million euros, i.e. with a value of 95.8% of the limit fund, automatically declaring them winners.
But how can companies that have contracts worth 38 thousand euros over 4 years meet the needs of a 4.8 million euro tender?
The Public Procurement Law clearly states that economic operators must demonstrate similar experience worth no less than 40% of the contract limit fund being procured. This is the minimum criterion of economic and financial capacity to qualify for a public procurement procedure.
DIGIcom has realized 3.8 million lek or 38 thousand euros in contracts with the state over the last 3 years, or 0.79% of the value of the limit fund, so it is 99.21% less than the minimum requirement. In 2023, it was disqualified by the AKSHI itself for the same reason.
MCN Networking has won 29.5 million lek or 295 thousand euros in tenders in 3 years or 6.15% of the limit fund. Its activity extends from bars and cafes to road construction, where the internet is only a small segment. The KPP has previously disqualified it for not meeting the criteria.
ABISSNET has won 11 million lek or 110 thousand euros in tenders in 3 years, or 2.29% of the limit fund, so it has 97.71% less than the minimum requirement. In the 2023 tender, it participated only as part of a consortium of operators, as it did not meet the criteria as a single operator.
None of the three operators have contracts similar to those criteria set by the AKSHI.
Why are international operators being left out?
International operators in Albania are Vodafone Albania and One Albania, part of the largest European and world groups, it seems that they boycotted the tender due to the fund limit which is unfeasible for this request - offer.
Risk of digital blockade
The result is clear. With the announcement of local operators as winners, with sporadic service points such as Tirana, Durrës and Dhermi, Albania risks a total digital blockade for the next two years, paralyzing basic services for citizens.
The question that arises is why the Bid Evaluation Committee chooses outside the criteria it has set itself and in violation of the Public Procurement Law?/ Pamphlet
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