internet in croatia

For the first time since telecommunications data has been tracked, the number of fibre-optic internet connections in Croatia has overtaken traditional copper-based ones.

More than €60 million has been invested in fibre infrastructure so far this year, marking a major step forward in the country’s digital development – although rural areas continue to lag behind.

According to figures released by the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM), the number of fibre connections rose by 106,474 compared to mid-2024, while copper networks lost 68,191 users.

More than half of Croatian internet users now enjoy speeds of 100 Mbit/s or higher. Fibre technology provides faster and more stable connections, with improved upload and download speeds – ideal for streaming, remote work, online gaming, and transferring large files.

Telecommunications expert Đuro Lubura told HRT that while cities are seeing strong progress, rural areas remain far behind the European average.

“In urban areas where operators have a commercial interest, we can be satisfied. Around two-thirds of connections there offer very high speeds through fibre or comparable technologies. But in rural regions, there is still work to be done – we’re at only 25% fibre coverage, compared to around 50% across the EU,” said Lubura.

HAKOM officials explained that the rapid transition to fibre does not yet translate into higher revenues for operators.

“Operators’ revenues are even slightly lower than they could be. Their goal is to increase the number of very high-speed connections, so they’re offering promotional deals – six, nine or twelve months for one euro – to encourage users to switch. It doesn’t impact revenues much in the short term, but it will have long-term benefits,” said Mladen Sikirica, head of HAKOM’s Market Economics Department.

Telecommunications companies credit deregulation over the past year and a half for accelerating investment and competition.

“Deregulation has been a major boost to these investments. It has allowed for more competitive offers to end users, and thanks to that, we now have more citizens connected to the best high-speed networks than ever before,” said Iva Cibulić Blažević, Director of Regulatory Public Affairs at Hrvatski Telekom (HT).

Experts and operators agree that Croatia is moving in the right direction when it comes to fibre expansion. However, they also acknowledge that bridging the gap between urban and rural areas remains a key challenge.

As fibre networks continue to grow and technology evolves, Croatia’s digital future looks increasingly bright – but the journey towards full nationwide coverage is far from over.

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