Almost one million euros from the European Commission for the 5G project in the Port of Ploče

The Port Authority Ploče and the company Markoja have received almost one million euros from European funds for the 5G smart port project. According to their statement, this is a project ‘Improving public services of the Port of Ploče through the implementation of 5G connectivity’. Specifically, this project will be financed by the European Commission with 958,125 euros as part of the second round of the CEF2 Digital call aimed at introducing a secure, protected, and sustainable 5G network in member states.

This is the first step for the port, now the largest in Croatia, to also become the first smart port in our country connected to the 5G network. This involves the automation of processes and sensor technology that will change the way the port operates, all with the aim of achieving additional competitiveness for the port and further reducing its carbon footprint.

– Our task is to strategically develop the Port of Ploče by investing in infrastructure, so that we can maximize competitiveness in changing geopolitical circumstances. Technology is today an indispensable component of this, and 5G, due to its technical characteristics, represents a significant leap and turning point in processes and operations – stated Tomislav Batur, Director of the Port Authority of Ploče.

Hrvoje Livaja, CEO of Luka Ploče, the company that has the concession for the port area, said that ‘the global smart port market is rapidly growing and some projections show that by 2027 it will be worth 5.7 billion dollars, representing a threefold increase in just five years. This trend is a result of increasing traffic and pressure to enhance the efficiency of port operations, as well as the need to reduce CO2 emissions.

The company Markoja, one of the leading Croatian providers of network and infrastructure telecommunications solutions, is providing a private 5G Standalone (SA) network as part of the project, which is a prerequisite for the implementation of technologies such as AI, computer vision and video analytics, augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), and remote control of drones and other machines. The goal is to raise the level of digitalization and automation of port business processes through greater work safety and more efficient operations in accordance with ESG criteria. ‘As the owner of the 5G spectrum at the regional level in nine counties of the Republic of Croatia, Markoja plans to actively participate in creating a market for private 5G networks for various industrial verticals and smart communities. We are proud that the European Commission recognized the innovation of this project, which will positively impact the application of 5G technology both in Croatia and throughout the European Union. Although the application process for the fund is technically and administratively demanding, we are grateful that we could rely on such reliable partners and achieve a successful result in a short time,’ emphasized Boris Markoja, Director and Member of the Management Board of Markoja.

As announced by these two companies, the 5G smart port project is one of two projects co-financed in Croatia, out of a total of 42 approved projects from 18 member states, which will receive a total investment of 260 million euros. This is also the only project from Croatia that the European Commission has approved under the 5GSC fund out of a total of 14 approved across the Union.