VIP - Macedonia
VIP (Macedonia) uses 2 GSM bands, 2 UMTS bands, and 2 LTE bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with VIP (Macedonia). See the tables below for details.
Check device compatibilityCarrier website: http://www.vip.mk/
VIP Operator, now rebranded as A1 Macedonia, is a mobile network operator in North Macedonia. Here are some key points about the company:
History: VIP Operator was established in 2007 after acquiring a GSM 900/1800 license from the Macedonian Agency for Electronic Communications. It began commercial operations in September 2007 and signed a strategic partnership with Vodafone in May 2008.
Network Expansion: By September 2011, VIP Operator had achieved a population coverage of over 99% with its own network. In July 2014, it launched its advanced 4G LTE network, which had over 622,000 customers by the end of 2014, with a market share of 28%.
Rebranding: In 2015, VIP Operator merged with ONE to form one.Vip, which was later fully rebranded as A1 Macedonia, part of the A1 Telekom Austria Group.
Coverage and Services: A1 Macedonia offers a wide range of services, including mobile telephony, fast mobile internet, broadband home internet, and TV services. The company provides competitive monthly plans with convergent offers and discounts for bundled services.
4G Network: A1 Macedonia has a strong 4G LTE network, with significant coverage in both urban and rural areas. The network provides fast download and upload speeds, making it a reliable choice for both residents and tourists.
Tourist SIM Cards: The company offers prepaid SIM cards for tourists, which provide a good amount of minutes and data at a reasonable price. This is a popular option for visitors to North Macedonia.
Overall, A1 Macedonia, formerly VIP Operator, has established itself as a major player in North Macedonia's telecommunications market, offering comprehensive services and strong network coverage.
Frequency Bands
GSM
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 900 MHz (E-GSM) | GSM | VIP Macedonia uses the GSM 900 MHz (E-GSM) frequency band. The deployment of this frequency band is not specified. |
| 1800 MHz (DCS) | GSM | VIP Macedonia uses the GSM 1800 MHz (DCS) frequency band. This band operates within the 1.8 GHz frequency range, specifically with uplink frequencies from 1710–1785 MHz and downlink frequencies from 1805–1880 MHz. It was introduced in 1991 as an extension of the GSM standard and is primarily used in Europe. The GSM 1800 MHz band offers reduced signal interference and greater channel availability compared to the more crowded 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands used by GSM. It provides services such as voice communication, text messaging (SMS), and basic data communications, similar to GSM. |
UMTS
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | UMTS | VIP Macedonia uses the UMTS frequency band B1 (2100 MHz). The deployment of this band by VIP Macedonia is not specified in the available information. |
| B2 (1900 MHz PCS) | UMTS | VIP Macedonia uses the UMTS frequency band 1900 MHz (Band 2). The deployment date for this band is not specified. |
LTE
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B3 (1800 MHz +) | LTE | VIP Macedonia uses LTE Band 3 (1800 MHz +) for its 4G LTE network. This band is widely used globally and supports both FDD and TDD configurations, offering a balance between network coverage and data capacity. It is particularly popular in Europe, APAC, MEA, and selected countries in South America, facilitating international roaming for mobile broadband services. |
| B20 (800 MHz DD) | LTE | VIP Macedonia uses LTE B20 (800 MHz DD) for its 4G LTE network. This frequency band is known for its wide area coverage and deep penetration, making it suitable for regional and rural environments, as well as in-building coverage. It is also popular for IoT applications like eMTC (LTE Cat M1) and NB-IoT (LTE Cat NB1) due to its wide coverage characteristics. The 800 MHz band does not easily support Massive MIMO and beamforming technologies due to its large wavelength. It can be used as a single band or as part of a multi-band network, and it supports carrier aggregation with other bands to enhance bandwidth and performance. |
