Hrvatski Telekom (HT) and Ericsson Nikola Tesla (ENT) signed a cooperation agreement making ENT the exclusive supplier of the radio part for HT’s mobile network until 2024.
This is the first 5G agreement signed in Croatia by Croatian companies.
Meanwhile, the regulator HAKOM has announced to postpone the allocation of spectrum for 5G through a public auction until the first half of 2021. HAKOM notes that due to the COVID-19 virus and the impact of the adopted measures to combat the epidemic on social and economic activities, the transition to DVB-T2 / HEVC, which was planned in the first half of this year, was postponed for the second half.
Commenting on the agreement between HT and ENT, Kostas Nebis, HT CEO said: “The past months made it clear how vital the ICT industry and investments in digital infrastructure are, as they are a key lever for the society’s digitisation and return to economic growth. The cooperation with Ericsson Nikola Tesla is the latest example of our commitment to supporting the economy and society and we intend to continue keeping the pace of our network investment plan and connecting everyone in Croatia with the digitalisation opportunities. This is something HT as the leading network is dedicated to enabling, as by digitalisation and use of modern technologies we support individuals to become more digitally empowered, businesses to become more innovative and productive, and the economy to become more competitive and resilient. 5G technology implementation is applicable on a broad scale and resonating with Croatia’s needs, i.e. enabling higher energy efficiencies through smart metering and dynamic management of power supply, higher efficiency in agriculture through connected and automated devices and machinery, or optimisation of irrigation processes, as well as in variety of other industries”.
Gordana Kovacevic, president of ENT, added: “I am proud that, after our first demonstration of 5G technology two years ago, we have now signed the first 5G agreement in Croatia. We are continuing the activities of modernizing HT’s mobile network, which we started in 2018. This agreement will enable cutting-edge solutions from Ericsson’s radio system portfolio and the fifth generation of mobile communications in the coming period. Ericsson Nikola Tesla experts were among the first to work on the implementation of 5G networks globally. Ericsson has launched 40 5G networks on four continents so far. Our strength lies in Ericsson’s technology leadership and our employees. As many as 1,500 of the 3,200 employees of the Ericsson Nikola Tesla Group work in the largest Croatian R&D centre, which significantly contributes to the development of new functionalities of 5G networks within the global Ericsson R&D community”.
