Croatia’s government is set to re-introduce a controversial 6% tax on the telecom sector.
Though targeting mobile telephony, the move is likely to have widespread implications for the industry as a whole.
Balkan Insight reports that Croatia’s three mobile operators – Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT), Vipnet and Tele2 Croatia – have all issued statements condemning the tax, which was originally introduced by the previous centre-right government and expired at the beginning of this year.
It would now be extended until July 1, 2013, the target date for Croatia’s entry into the EU, and generate annual revenues of HRK300 million (€66.2 million).
Both T-HT and Vipnet are key players in Croatia’s pay-TV industry, the former through the operation of two IPTV services (one via a subsidiary) and DTH platform and latter through its ownership of the leading cable operator B.net and a DTH platform.
