Hakom - Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency

ZAGREB, 3 June 2016 – Indicators on the electronic communications markets in the Republic of Croatia show that investments grew by 18% in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of the previous year. Taking into accounts investments carried out to date, it may be expected that operators will invest more in material property in 2016 than they did in 2015. Of particular significance is the continuation of investments into the modernization of networks and investments into the NGA infrastructure, in particular through increased access to high-speed internet. 44 % out of 1,000,000 fixed broadband connections have access speed over 10 Mbit/s. Investments into and growth of the total number of internet connections and NGA connections are directly related to simultaneous decrease in the total number of technologically older connections based on the copper access network, which is proof of a more serious investment cycle of transition to Next Generation Networks.
 
An even more significant progress is expected if the Republic of Croatia uses the funds from the European Regional Development Fund earmarked for broadband development in areas lacking commercial interest for investments into NGA infrastructure. There are more than EUR 200 million available in that fund for Croatia for that purpose.
 
Significant growth has also been recorded in relation to data traffic from mobile internet access. 18% of total revenue on the entire market is earned from mobile data traffic. Taking into account all services on the market, mobile network operators earned 5% of total revenue on the market.

ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.