How CETIN Serbia Manages Access, Time, Alarms and Video Across More Than 700 Locations
CETIN Serbia operates a substantial part of the telecommunications infrastructure in Serbia. Its estate spans over 200 retail sites, 500 base stations, and corporate and technical locations, including remote base stations exposed to temperatures ranging from approximately -30 °C in winter to +40 °C in summer. Access control, time and attendance, intrusion detection, video surveillance, alarm monitoring and base-station protection all run through one platform, built on Primion technology with International Business Partner JONIK. What began in August 2005, protecting the main server rooms now covers over 900 doors, over 9,800 licensed users and 3,750 data points.
The CETIN Serbia installation covers more than 200 retail sites, 500 base stations, and corporate and technical facilities
As the network expanded, the security requirements became more complex. The focus moved beyond conventional office and retail environments to geographically dispersed technical sites and base stations exposed to extreme weather. Protecting locations that are remote and often unattended required a reliable setup capable of bringing multiple security and environmental systems together.
Fragmented Systems, Limited Visibility
Before the integrated platform was introduced, security operations relied on separate systems and disconnected workflows across different facility types. This increased maintenance effort, limited situational awareness, and slowed response times when incidents occurred.
One Platform Across Every Facility Type
CETIN needed a centralised platform for managing access control, alarms, and video surveillance across retail, corporate, and technical facilities. Unified monitoring provided a consistent operational view, while a scalable architecture supported continued network growth.
What the Architecture Had to Handle
Primion’s IDT 32 intelligent controller became a central component. It supports access control alongside the integration of intrusion alarms, video surveillance, fire detection, temperature detection, humidity, heating cabling and environmental monitoring.
To meet the specific requirements of telecommunications sites, JONIK developed the ICU device, a dedicated base-station protection unit integrated directly into Primion’s security management platform. The ICU enables central monitoring of site conditions and security events, so operators can respond from a single environment.
From a Pilot in 2005 to the Centre of an Integrated Security Platform
The partnership began in August 2005 with a pilot deployment of time and attendance and access control systems protecting the main server rooms at Telenor Serbia, the business whose telecommunications infrastructure now operates as CETIN Serbia. Within a year, the Primion platform had become the backbone of an integrated security environment spanning technical headquarters, critical infrastructure, and other high-security facilities, supporting more than 1,000 employees across over 80 buildings.
As the project expanded, Primion and JONIK were also tasked with securing a newly opened Telenor-operated data centre in Belgrade. Access to IT racks was controlled through Primion RFID readers, requiring users to present an authorised card and personal PIN before gaining access to approved equipment only.
As the telecommunications market evolved, the original Telenor deployment developed into two major installations: CETIN Serbia and One Montenegro, formerly Telenor Montenegro. Today, both organisations continue to rely on Primion and JONIK technology to secure their corporate, retail, and technical facilities.
What’s Running Today: Security at Scale Across People, Facilities and Operations
For security operations, more than 150 controllers, primarily Primion IDT 32 units, manage over 900 controlled doors through prime WebAccess. The installation includes 550 Primion MIFARE DESFire readers, over 250 equipped with keypads, more than 100 Primion pKT components, and 70 JONIK ICU devices securing remote base stations. For workforce management, prime WebTime support over 9,800 users.
At the centre of the solution is prime Security Management (pSM), providing a unified operational environment for access control, intrusion alarms, and video surveillance. Licensed for 3,750 data points, the platform integrates Primion prime WebAccess, Milestone Systems, Bosch Conettix, and custom JONIK-developed drivers for systems including Paradox, Watchdog, and HR applications. Instead of switching between isolated systems, operators can view alarms, access associated video footage, and investigate incidents from a single interface, improving situational awareness and response efficiency.
The Same Architecture, Adapted for One Montenegro
One Montenegro follows the same proven architecture, adapted to its local infrastructure and operational requirements. The system covers more than 30 retail, corporate and technical locations and includes more than 25 Primion IDT 32 controllers, 240 controlled doors, and over 130 Primion MIFARE DESFire readers, including 60 with keypads and JONIK ICU devices protect remote base stations. prime WebSystems licences cover 800 users, with a prime Security Management licence covering 1,250 data points.
Through prime Security Management, One Montenegro benefits from the integration of Milestone video surveillance, Primion access control and Paradox intrusion detection. ASSA ABLOY locking provides additional physical protection for remote base-station locations.
Until now, our experience gained from this partnership has proved one thing, that with hard work and commitment, a solution can be found even for the unique and specific security challenges presented by a company like Telenor.
Aleksandar Jakovljevic, Telenor Serbia, speaking during the original Telenor installation
The System, By the Numbers
700+
locations under centralised management
900+
controlled doors
3,700+
data points covered by the pSM licence
A Partnership Designed for the Future
Over more than two decades, the cooperation that began with Telenor has adapted to new technologies, organisational changes and increasingly demanding security requirements. CETIN Serbia and One Montenegro now operate integrated security systems built for modern telecommunications networks, with a centrally managed platform that supports continued network growth, high availability at remote sites, easier maintenance, flexible integration with third-party technologies and local 24/7 technical support.
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