Montenegro plans to conclude a design-and-build agreement for a new state data centre by the end of 2026, with Hungary’s 4iG Group ranked first in the government’s evaluation of companies proposed by Hungary. The project is intended to consolidate data currently held on separate public-sector servers and systems into infrastructure designed to comply with Tier III, ISO 27001 and EN 50600 standards covering availability, security and resilience.
The project’s final location, capacity and investment value have not yet been determined. A deadline for completing construction has also not been formally established. Once the design-and-build contract is concluded, responsibility for monitoring implementation is expected to transfer to Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Works. The initiative forms part of a broader cooperation framework between Montenegro and Hungary signed, covering telecommunications, information technology, infrastructure and law-enforcement technology. The agreement entered into force.
In March, Montenegro selected 4iG for negotiations on the state data centre and a separate law-enforcement technology programme. The latter has a budget of €54.25 million, while the value of the data-centre project remains undetermined. 4iG’s International Digital Infrastructure subsidiary is expected to develop the facility.
Data centre cost and capacity remain under development
Montenegro is still working on the location and required capacity of the planned facility, as well as its final investment model and financing structure. A feasibility study prepared with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) examined the technical, financial, legal and organisational requirements for establishing centralised government data infrastructure. The Montenegrin government and Finance Ministry are expected to provide the required financing. The final project value will depend on technical specifications, capacity and the procurement and implementation structure.
The infrastructure requirements extend beyond the construction of a server facility. The project may involve redundant electricity supply, backup generation, cooling, cybersecurity infrastructure and telecommunications connections, together with systems intended to maintain operations during equipment or grid failures. The capacity ultimately specified for the centre will determine its construction requirements and long-term electricity needs.
Project linked to 4iG’s wider Montenegro strategy
The data-centre project forms part of 4iG’s broader activities in Montenegro’s telecommunications and digital infrastructure sector. The Hungarian group entered the Montenegrin market through the acquisition of the former Telenor Montenegro business, now One Crna Gora, and is expanding its activities into government ICT infrastructure.
In its first-half 2026 report, 4iG said it was examining opportunities with partners involving renewable energy, electricity networks, power purchasing and digital infrastructure. Data-centre infrastructure requires continuous electricity supply, while the combination of digital infrastructure and energy investments is also relevant to long-term renewable-power arrangements, energy costs and carbon exposure. Montenegro has hydro, wind and solar potential, as well as an electricity interconnector with Italy, within the country’s wider power-sector investment framework.
The state data-centre project is primarily aimed at consolidating government infrastructure. Public-sector information is currently distributed among systems and servers with different levels of protection and resilience. The planned centralisation is intended to strengthen data sovereignty, cybersecurity and disaster resilience, while establishing a common technology platform for electronic government services. The government also expects the facility to support the digitalisation of municipal services and reduce duplication of infrastructure among public institutions.
4iG expands activities beyond telecommunications
The planned agreement would extend 4iG’s activities in the Western Balkans beyond conventional telecommunications. The group has operations in Montenegro and Albania, alongside activities in digital infrastructure, system integration and government technology in addition to mobile and fixed telecommunications. Its projects with the Montenegrin government extend its activities directly into state digital infrastructure.
The data-centre project is also part of the economic cooperation framework between Montenegro and Hungary, under which Hungarian companies are being considered for infrastructure and technology projects. The targeted contract signing by the end of 2026 remains the next project milestone, while the facility’s scale will depend on decisions covering its location, computing capacity, power requirements, financing model and final construction cost.
