Facing economic globalization, internationalization has become the lifeblood for many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The aim of this paper is to illustrate internationalization of an SME as a challenge to interpersonal communication competence. In international business, the competition for products, prices and technologies has expanded to successful development and management of business collaboration and international networks. Networks are created, developed and maintained through social interaction. Therefore it is a necessity to analyze what is interpersonal communication competence in the formation, development and maintenance of such interpersonal relations that are successful for SMEs in their efforts of internationalization. 
 
 Building upon existing literature on interpersonal and intercultural communication, communication networks and SME internationalization, this theoretical paper aims to examine demands of internationalization from the perspective of interpersonal communication competence of SMEs’ owner-managers and employees.