This is an important year for Croatia, set to become the 28th member state of the European Union on July 1.
While its accession is not without its critics, both inside and outside the country, there is no doubt it will have far-reaching implications, not least in helping to attract more foreign investment.
Although Croatia’s electronic communications sector already has the backing of such companies as Deutsche Telekom (Hrvatski Telekom – T-HT), Telekom Austria (Vipnet, B-net) and Central European Media Enterprises (Nova TV), it will undoubtedly benefit still further from the country being in the EU.
Competition in the sector is quite fierce, not least in the provision of TV and broadband services. Results just published by T-HT show that it managed to grow take-up of the former in the first quarter, while the latter actually fell year-on-year.
Ivica Mudrinic, T-HT’s president and CEO, put its disappointing overall financial performance down to “the sluggish economy, as well as intensified regulatory and financial pressures.”
The latter were demonstrated only this week, when it was reported the regulator HAKOM will require T-HT and its sister company Iskon to increase their fees from the beginning of next month. In its view, they are abusing their market position by undercutting their competitors.
Telekom Austria meanwhile this March strengthened its position in Croatia through its local subsidiary Vipnet by buying the Digi TV satellite operation from RCS&RDS for an undisclosed. It has already backed B.net, the country’s leading cable operator, since 2011.
All this comes against the backdrop of huge advances in the multiscreen and OTT environment, in which both T-HT and Vipnet are important players. So, too, is Nova TV, through its Oyo on demand service.
All this and much more will be discussed at the next Broadband TV News event, due to be held at the Westin in Zagreb on May 28.
Free to attend, it will have Multiscreen and OTT in Croatia as its theme and feature speakers and panelists from key players in the industry.
For further details and to register for free, please go to: