A1 Hrvatska awarded in Brussels for the broadband internet access development project in Solin

The European Commission awarded A1 Hrvatska the European Broadband Award in Brussels for a project co-financed by European funds that built a next-generation broadband access fixed network in Solin, enabling residents to access gigabit internet speeds. On behalf of A1 Hrvatska, the award was accepted by Martina Dragičević, Director of Regulatory Affairs and EU Funds, and Vladimir Skender, Chief Network Officer.

The newly built broadband infrastructure in Solin is based on FTTH technology (Fiber to the Home) and was completed five months ahead of schedule. Total investments amount to over 2.1 million euros, and the project has enabled state-of-the-art fixed internet access for nearly 3,000 households. The project was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund based on the Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014 – 2020, as part of the Call for ‘Building Next Generation Networks (NGN)/Next Generation Access Networks (NGA) in NGA White Areas’.

– We are proud that our commitment to building very high-capacity networks enabling equal development of rural and urban areas, accelerating the digital transformation of the private and public sectors, and acquiring new digital skills has been recognized by the European Commission as a pillar of cross-border competitiveness for Croatian entrepreneurs and citizens. This award is also an award for the Republic of Croatia as we have achieved victory despite very strong competition at the European level. We would especially like to thank the support of the local community without which we could not have realized this project – said Martina Dragičević, Director of Regulatory Affairs and EU Funds at A1 Hrvatska when accepting the award in Brussels.

The Chief Network Officer of A1 Hrvatska, Vladimir Skender, added:

– We are pleased that what and how we build is recognized at the European Union level. Our state-of-the-art fixed network not only brings gigabit speeds to rural areas but also represents the foundation of modern development and competitiveness of local communities. A1 Hrvatska continues to be one of the larger investors in the development of Croatia with the goal of covering as many as one million households with gigabit fixed internet by 2025 – said Skender.

In addition to building infrastructure, A1 Hrvatska is also positioning itself as a leader in the use of renewable energy sources through this project, as solar panels will be installed at base stations financed by A1 Hrvatska, with an expected production of 38,400 kWh of electricity annually and a reduction of CO2 emissions by 9 tons.

Along with Solin, A1 Hrvatska is also building an optical gigabit network with the help of EU funds in the area of the city of Kaštela and surrounding areas, as well as in the area of Ivanić-Grad, with Solin being one of the first Croatian cities almost completely covered by an optical network built with the help of EU funds.