With an investment of 109.28 million euros at a public auction for the issuance of licenses for the use of radio frequency spectrum, A1 Hrvatska has secured long-term resources that will serve as the foundation for ambitious growth plans and investments in the development of mobile services over the next 15 years. The spectrum has been secured in frequency bands of 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2600 MHz, which will enable the best user experience, accelerated market growth, maximum national coverage, and thus help meet the requirements of the Digital Agenda for Europe.
This significant investment has once again proven the company as a serious investor and partner to the Government of the Republic of Croatia. The public auction process conducted by HAKOM was highly competitive, which confirms the significantly higher revenue for the state than the initially planned 155 million euros, which was the initial price for all radio frequency spectrum offered at the public auction. A1 Hrvatska will pay 109.28 million euros for its acquired portion of the radio frequency spectrum.
The CEO of A1 Hrvatska Jiří Dvorjančanský emphasizes that the company has once again confirmed its readiness to invest significant funds in the development of telecommunications networks and advanced digital services in Croatia.
– We have always been committed to further developing globally competitive high-performance mobile and fixed networks, digitalization, and advancing Croatia towards the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). After investing in the spectrum, new significant investments in technology, modernization, and the development of next-generation networks will follow. Our strategy is to use all radio frequencies in the future as 5G standards to support the best user experience and ensure maximum availability, reliability, and security for both our private and business users, says Dvorjančanský.
With the acquired radio frequency spectrum, A1 Hrvatska has secured resources for continuing to provide the highest quality mobile services, developing new innovative products, and achieving the highest standards of customer satisfaction. Additionally, with the mentioned spectrum, quality broadband Internet is ensured even in areas with inadequate infrastructure, such as outdated copper pairs.
The necessity for large investments is confirmed by the fact that users consume 30 to 50 percent more data each year, primarily video content on social media and OTT streaming platforms.
– Through this public auction, A1 Hrvatska secured 2×25 MHz in the 800/900 MHz radio frequency band and 2×65 MHz in the 1800/2100/2600 MHz radio frequency band, which will enable high-quality network capacities and meet all user traffic growth needs in the coming years. All of this is the basis for the continued strong development of next-generation mobile networks. In addition to this investment in the renewal of the radio frequency spectrum amounting to 109.28 million euros, A1 Hrvatska intends to invest significantly in the modernization of its mobile network over the next two years. The goal is to expand the coverage area of the 5G signal to encompass almost the entire population, significantly increase the capacities of the A1 5G mobile network, and enhance the quality of advanced mobile services across Croatia, explains Branimir Marić, Chief Technical Officer of A1 Hrvatska.
