HT to Widen Fiber Connectivity in Dalmatia

Hrvatski Telekom and Split-Dalmatia County have announced the start of a major infrastructure project to build a fiber-optic network. It would stretch across the municipalities of Zmijavci, Lokvičići, Podbablje, Proložac, and Runovići, and the town of Imotski.

The project, which is to be completed by June 30, 2026, will deliver ultra-fast broadband internet access to nearly 7,500 households in the area. The initiative is part of HT's effort to expand fiber-optic networks across Croatia, providing minimum speeds of 100 Mbps in towns, municipalities, and suburban and rural communities. It is implemented under the structural rules of the Framework National Program for the Development of Broadband Access Infrastructure in areas of insufficient commercial interest for investment.

The value of the construction is €5.5 million. HT will invest €1.2 million, while the remaining €4.3 million will be co-financed through National Recovery and Resilience Plan grants. Implementing this project will significantly improve access to digital public services such as e-Citizens, e-Schools, and e-Health. The availability of high-speed internet will also support entrepreneurship and stimulate further economic development.

"Hrvatski Telekom is the largest private investor in Croatia's digitalization. Last year alone, we invested more than €242 million, demonstrating our commitment to accelerating digital transformation and building essential infrastructure nationwide. Our vision is to connect everyone in Croatia with the opportunities of digitalization and help people improve their everyday lives. We are not focusing solely on major urban centers. We are also investing in smaller communities, and this project is a perfect example," said Ivan Bartulović, Member of the Management Board and Chief of Human Resources and Customer Experience Officer at Hrvatski Telekom.

The Very High Capacity Networks (VHCN) that HT plans to build would be open-access networks, meaning that all other operators and electronic communications service providers will have equal access to the infrastructure. As part of this project, the very high-capacity network will be brought to parts of the country where it does not exist. HT said in a statement that it remains fully committed to its investment plans. Infrastructure development is key to driving a new cycle of economic growth and broader societal progress.