HT is Building a 5G Network for Croatia’s Three Smart Airports

Hrvatski Telekom’s NextGen 5G Airports project has been selected for co-financing under the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program. Croatia will get its first three smart airports, for which HT will build dedicated private 5G networks. The total investment amounts to €5.6 million, including €3.09 million in European grant funding.

As lead partner, HT submitted NextGen 5G Airports under the CEF Digital subprogram and the call “5G Large Scale Pilots – 5G and Edge for Smart Communities – Works”, in consortium with the airports of Zagreb, Zadar, and Pula, the company Markoja, and the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences at the University of Zagreb. The project activities include investment in the construction of private 5G networks at airport sites, which will increase operational efficiency, safety, and overall user experience.

NextGen 5G Airports is only the fourth project focused on airport infrastructure to receive co-financing through CEF Digital. Out of 128 projects co-financed in the first three calls, only three focused on airports across the entire EU. One of the main advantages of deploying private 5G networks at airports is that they provide a comprehensive solution in which HT assumes full responsibility for network management. This approach ensures a stable and reliable communications environment for airports and enables faster and more efficient digitalisation of airport services.

Furthermore, private 5G networks significantly enhance airport safety and operational reliability. Network flexibility allows adaptation to the specific requirements of each airline, operator, or user, providing them with infrastructure tailored precisely to their needs. Investments in private 5G networks are driving the transformation of Croatian airports, increasing their readiness for future challenges and opportunities while ensuring a top-class user experience. The European Union covers up to 75% of eligible costs.