The Croatian incumbent Hrvatski Telekom (HT) has been awarded 13 contracts to construct next generation/access networks (NGNs/NGAs) in “white areas” with a total value of HRK820.5 million (€108.4 million), of which HRK323.2 million is in grants.
In a statement, the company says that eight projects worth a total of HRK578 million, of which HRK263.9 million are in grants, have so far been signed off. Commenting on the development, Minister Natasa Tramisak said: “With today’s delivery, we used the entire allocation of calls. 21 contracts with a total investment value of almost HRK1.4 billion have been signed, of which HRK687 million is non-refundable funds”.
The implementation of these 13 projects, financed from the European Structural and Investment Funds, will enable the construction of the NGA network and fast and ultra-fast broadband access to network infrastructure for an additional 148,774 apartments, and business and public users in remote, sparsely populated and less developed areas of Croatia.
Boris Drilo, member of the management board and chief technology and information technology officer at HT, added: “I am extremely proud of today’s signing of 13 grant agreements for various territorial areas in Croatia, in which HT, the largest private investor, will in digitalisation, build next-generation broadband networks (NGAs) by the end of 2023 at the latest. HT continuously invests in the development of its optical network, and I am especially pleased that we are actively working on digitalisation of all parts of Croatia and that through these projects we will implement the network in smaller urban and rural areas of Croatia and provide NGA access for almost 149.000 potential users, with mean internet access speeds of 100Mbps”.
