The Croatian Connection: How Fast, Far, and Future-Proof Is Internet Access in 2025?

Overview of Croatia’s Internet Infrastructure (Urban vs. Rural)

Croatia’s internet infrastructure has made significant progress but still shows a gap between urban and rural areas. As of 2022, about 77% of the population are regular internet users (97% among youth) trade.gov. In cities and towns, residents typically enjoy fast broadband (86% of households have access to “fast” networks) while rural coverage remains much lower (only ~39% of rural homes had fast broadband availability as of 2022) trade.gov. This urban–rural digital divide means connectivity in remote villages and islands can lag behind the capital Zagreb or coastal cities. Fixed broadband uptake nationwide has grown to roughly three-quarters of households – slightly below the EU average (~78%) – indicating room for further adoption trade.gov. Rural communities especially tend to rely on older DSL lines or mobile networks where fiber isn’t yet deployed.

Mobile internet plays a crucial role in bridging gaps. There is near-universal 4G/LTE coverage (98% of the population, above EU average) trade.gov, so even rural users often have basic mobile internet access. Mobile broadband usage is on par with Europe (around 81% of people use mobile data) trade.gov. Croatia launched 5G commercially after a spectrum auction in August 2021 trade.gov, and by 2023 had expanded 5G to about 83.4% of the country’s territory trade.gov. However, 5G coverage is more concentrated in urban areas; operators are working to extend 5G to highways, rail routes and eventually rural zones by 2025–2027 en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. In short, urban Croatians today typically have access to high-speed fiber or cable and advanced 4G/5G networks, whereas rural residents may still contend with slower DSL or patchy wireless signals. Overcoming this urban–rural divide is a central challenge as Croatia aims for universal broadband.

Broadband Penetration: Croatia is catching up but still among the lower-ranked EU countries for connectivity. In the EU’s Digital Economy and Society Index, Croatia placed 21st of 27 in 2022 trade.gov. Fixed broadband subscription density is roughly 27–30 per 100 people (about 1.11 million fixed lines for 4+ million population), trailing more digitally advanced neighbors. On a household basis, ~75% have a fixed broadband connection en.wikipedia.org. Notably, fast internet (at least 30 Mbps) is available to most urban homes but far fewer rural ones. The country’s Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) coverage – which includes fiber-to-the-home and upgraded cable – reached 67.8% of households in 2023, but only 25.5% of rural homes, compared to ~55.6% rural coverage EU-wide trade.gov. Fiber optic rollout is accelerating (FTTP coverage jumped from 54% in 2022 to 62.1% in 2023) yet still below the EU average ~70% trade.gov. These figures underscore that while the majority of Croatians can get online, the speed and quality vary widely by location. The next sections will examine who provides these connections and by what technologies.

Major Internet Service Providers and Access Technologies

Croatia’s telecom market is dominated by three large operators that offer a mix of fixed and mobile services, alongside a few smaller ISPs. Hrvatski Telekom (HT) – the former state incumbent, now majority-owned by Deutsche Telekom – is the largest provider, followed by A1 Hrvatska (formerly Vipnet, part of Telecom Austria Group) and Telemach Hrvatska (owned by United Group). Together, these three control most of the broadband market budde.com.au. As of 2024, HT alone holds about 59% of fixed internet subscriptions developingtelecoms.com, leveraging its nationwide infrastructure legacy. A1 Croatia has roughly a quarter of the market, and Telemach (a newer entrant which acquired alternative operator Optima Telekom) makes up most of the remainder. Smaller local ISPs (such as Iskon, an HT subsidiary, and a handful of regional fiber providers) exist but with limited reach.

Fixed Broadband Technologies: DSL over copper telephone lines was historically the predominant fixed broadband and is still common in many areas (ADSL/VDSL networks cover much of the country) en.wikipedia.org. Hrvatski Telekom’s “MAXadsl” and similar DSL offerings from Iskon and Optima delivered basic broadband nationwide en.wikipedia.org. However, fiber-optic broadband is rapidly expanding. HT and A1 have been deploying Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) in cities and towns, bringing gigabit-capable speeds. HT in particular accelerated its fiber rollout in recent years – in 2024 it added 150,000 new FTTH connections (a record annual expansion) and aimed to cover over 1.1 million households with gigabit fiber by 2025 t.ht.hr t.ht.hr. By early 2025, HT’s fiber network was the country’s largest, approaching 75–80% of households passed. A1 Hrvatska also offers fiber broadband in many urban areas (it had cable TV infrastructure via EuroDOCSIS in Zagreb and other cities, which it has been upgrading to fiber). In fact, A1 operates the main cable broadband network (acquired from the former B.net), providing high-speed internet and triple-play services over hybrid fiber-coax in certain cities en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Cable is not as widespread as DSL, but where available it offers hundreds of Mbps speeds. In rural and suburban projects, alternative fiber operators have emerged (for example, the RUNE project – a cross-border Slovenian-Croatian initiative – is laying fiber in underserved villages with EU funding budde.com.au).

Mobile Networks and Fixed Wireless: All three major telecom operators run nationwide mobile networks. HT (T-Mobile Croatia), A1, and Telemach each operate 2G/3G/4G, and all launched 5G services after the 2021 spectrum auction trade.gov. 4G LTE covers practically the entire populated territory (≥98% coverage) trade.gov, providing download speeds of tens of Mbps even in rural regions. 5G coverage is still being expanded: mid-band 5G (3.5 GHz) reaches about 40% of households as of 2023 trade.gov, while low-band 5G (e.g. 700 MHz) allows overall population coverage above 80% trade.gov. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is used as a stopgap in areas without wired broadband – for instance, A1 and HT sell home internet over 4G/5G routers (often branded as “Homebox” or similar) to rural customers. This has provided many remote homes with broadband-class service (typically 30–100 Mbps) where no cable or fiber lines exist. Legacy wireless technologies like WiMAX saw limited rollout by a few companies and never gained mass adoption en.wikipedia.org, largely superseded now by LTE/5G networks for wireless broadband.

Satellite and Other Technologies: While satellite internet historically had little demand in Croatia (older one-way satellite services dwindled once DSL became available) en.wikipedia.org, it is now re-emerging via modern options (see next section for details on Starlink and satellite providers). Additionally, Croatia’s academic network (CARNET) provides high-speed connectivity to schools and universities, and many cities offer public Wi-Fi hotspots. EU initiatives like WiFi4EU have funded free Wi-Fi in some municipalities vpntutorials.com. In urban centers, commercial and municipal Wi-Fi hotspots and community mesh networks (e.g. Zagreb Wireless, Otokultivator on islands) also contribute to connectivity. By 2025, the technology mix in Croatia’s internet access spans from cutting-edge fiber and 5G in the cities to older DSL lines and wireless links in remote hamlets – a diverse landscape that reflects both progress and remaining gaps.

Table 1: Major Internet Providers in Croatia and Their Networks (2025)

Note: Market shares are estimates for fixed broadband. Mobile market shares are similarly led by T-Mobile (HT) and A1, with Telemach (formerly Tele2) as the third operator.

Satellite Internet Availability (Starlink and Local Options)

Satellite internet is increasingly seen as a solution for Croatia’s hardest-to-reach locales – isolated villages, Adriatic islands, rural highlands – where terrestrial broadband is unavailable or unreliable. Historically, a few satellite ISPs operated in Croatia (often reselling services like Eutelsat’s Tooway/HughesNet), but these had high latency (>600 ms) and lower speeds (~10–30 Mbps), and interest faded once 3G/DSL expanded en.wikipedia.org. By 2010s, satellite links were used only in very remote spots with no other connectivity, and uptake was minimal (satellite internet coverage was technically ~94% of territory by 2013, yet few subscribed due to cost) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org.

The landscape changed with Starlink’s arrival. SpaceX’s Starlink service went live in Croatia in November 2021 en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org as part of its European rollout. Starlink’s network of hundreds of LEO satellites delivers broadband with 100–200 Mbps download speeds and much lower latency (~20–40 ms) than traditional satcom. This has made it a viable alternative for households and businesses in broadband “white zones.” By 2025, Starlink dishes (one is pictured above) have been deployed by some Croatians in rural mainland areas and on islands where previously only slow ADSL or expensive cellular data was available. In fact, A1 Croatia formed a partnership to offer Starlink equipment and service to its customers: as of March 2025, A1 officially added Starlink to its portfolio, marketing it to home and business users in poorly connected and isolated areas bug.hr bug.hr. Customers can buy the Starlink kit through A1 and use it as a last-resort broadband option. “We see Starlink as a valuable complement where the terrestrial network doesn’t exist or isn’t good enough… for all situations where we cannot offer adequate fixed or mobile connectivity, we want to provide a reliable alternative,” said A1’s Consumer Director in a 2025 announcement bug.hr bug.hr. This development underlines how satellite is being integrated into mainstream solutions for Croatia’s connectivity challenges.

Aside from Starlink, other satellite internet options include Viasat (which in 2022 launched a new high-throughput satellite covering Europe) and services via SES/Astra or Eutelsat satellites. These geostationary services can be accessed in Croatia through regional providers or specialized installers. However, they often come with strict data caps and 500+ millisecond latency, making them less attractive except where no other choice exists. Companies like GlobalTT, TS2, NTvsat advertise VSAT packages in Croatia for enterprise, maritime, or NGO use globaltt.com newsmedialists.com. The Croatian government and EU have also acknowledged satellite’s role in universal coverage – as part of digital inclusion efforts, subsidies or vouchers could be offered for satellite broadband in areas where wired networks won’t arrive soon broadbandforall.eu (a model already used in some EU countries).

In summary, satellite internet in 2025 is available and improving in Croatia. Starlink is the headline option, bringing genuinely fast internet to any point in the country (from Slavonian farms to Dalmatian islands) as long as the user is willing to pay (~€65–€100 per month plus equipment). Traditional satellite ISPs remain a niche, but the overall satellite coverage ensures virtually 100% of Croatia’s territory can get online one way or another en.wikipedia.org. Looking ahead, the satellite scene might further expand with upcoming constellations (OneWeb, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, EU’s planned IRIS² system) which could offer more choices and possibly drive costs down for remote users by 2030.

Government Policies and Digital Inclusion Initiatives

The Croatian government, aligned with EU goals, has been proactively formulating policies and investing in programs to improve internet access for all citizens. In March 2021, Croatia adopted a National Plan for Broadband Development (2021–2027) trade.gov, which lays out targets in line with Europe’s Gigabit Society objectives. The plan’s main aim is to ensure every household – urban or rural – can access broadband at ≥100 Mbps download, and that all public institutions (government offices, schools, healthcare facilities) have symmetrical ~1 Gbps connections digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. It also prioritizes comprehensive 5G coverage, mandating 5G networks in all major cities and along primary transport corridors (highways and railways) by 2025, and expansion to rural areas thereafter digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu en.wikipedia.org. These aims reflect EU’s 2025 targets (gigabit to key institutions, 100 Mbps upgradable to 1 Gbps for all homes, uninterrupted 5G in urban areas) and lay the groundwork toward the 2030 Digital Decade goals.

To implement these goals, the government leverages significant EU funding and national initiatives. Under Croatia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) – part of the EU’s post-COVID recovery funds – €130 million is earmarked specifically for expanding broadband in rural areas and building out 5G infrastructure digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. This includes co-funding fiber backbone networks and base stations in places that are not commercially attractive for operators. One major EU-supported project launched in recent years is constructing a next-generation backhaul network to rural and island settlements: roughly 5,650 km of fiber are being laid to connect 540 priority villages (>1000 people) plus around 5,800 smaller settlements across Croatia ec.europa.eu ec.europa.eu. By improving backhaul (the “middle-mile” that links local networks to the internet backbone), the project enables ISPs to then deliver fast last-mile connections in those communities. The philosophy is “uniform development” – to bring lagging regions up to par with the broadband quality of Croatia’s cities ec.europa.eu. Such projects are often financed by the European Regional Development Fund and involve public-private partnerships (for example, A1 Hrvatska led a noteworthy initiative using a hybrid of undersea fiber and microwave links to bring gigabit internet to the remote islands of Cres and Rab digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu).

Digital inclusion is also addressed through initiatives beyond infrastructure. The government’s Digital Croatia Strategy (until 2032) emphasizes not only network availability but also uptake and skills digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. One strategic objective is to ensure Very High Capacity Networks (VHCN) are not only developed but also widely used by citizens and businesses digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. This involves awareness campaigns and possibly subsidies to encourage subscriptions in areas where fiber is newly installed. Croatia has run programs to improve digital literacy and e-government usage (for instance, the e-Citizens portal and various e-Services have high adoption rates, and the country ranks well in youth digital skills) trade.gov trade.gov. For rural areas and marginalized groups, the government collaborates with EU programs like WiFi4EU (funding free public Wi-Fi hotspots in many municipalities) and has offered grants for setting up community internet centers or public access points vpntutorials.com. There is also a focus on affordability: while not as extensive as some Western EU states, Croatia has considered voucher schemes to help low-income or remote households cover the cost of satellite or wireless equipment if no fixed broadband is available broadbandforall.eu.

On the regulatory front, Croatia’s telecom regulator HAKOM plays a key role in ensuring competition and investment. HAKOM maintains a broadband coverage map (“HAKOMetar”) to identify underserved areas and guide interventions digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. In 2023, HAKOM moved to deregulate certain broadband markets where competition had increased, sparking debate as HT (the dominant player) was still seen as having ~59% share developingtelecoms.com. The regulatory environment thus seeks to balance incentivizing incumbents to invest (e.g. easing certain access obligations in competitive areas) with protecting smaller ISPs and consumers from monopoly pricing. Additionally, Croatia is subject to EU telecom regulations – it transposed the latest European Electronic Communications Code (though with some delay, incurring an EU court referral in 2022) budde.com.au.

In summary, Croatia’s government is actively pursuing a “broadband for all” agenda, backed by EU funds and national strategies. From hard infrastructure projects connecting rural hinterlands, to policy reforms and digital literacy drives, the aim is to not only build fast networks but also ensure every segment of society can benefit. By 2025, these efforts have yielded tangible improvements (rural fiber builds, near-ubiquitous 4G, etc.), even as work continues to fully close the gaps. The strong reliance on EU support highlights the importance of European solidarity in Croatia’s digital development – a trend likely to continue toward the 2030 goals.

Croatia vs. EU and Neighbors: A Comparative Analysis

How does Croatia’s internet access stack up against other European Union countries and its Balkan neighbors? In 2025, Croatia can be described as a middling performer: not at the forefront of the EU digital pack, but making steady advances and outperforming some of its non-EU neighbors in certain areas.

EU Context: Croatia trails the EU average on many connectivity indicators, though the gap is narrowing. According to the DESI 2022 index, Croatia was 21st out of 27 EU countries for connectivity trade.gov, reflecting lower fast broadband coverage and uptake. For instance, only 67.8% of Croatian homes had access to very high capacity networks (VHCN) by 2023, versus an EU average of around ~73–75% (and some top performers nearing 100%) trade.gov. The rural broadband gap is especially stark: only 25.5% of rural Croatian households can get VHCN, whereas more than half of rural EU households (55.6%) are covered on average trade.gov. In terms of adoption, about 75% of Croatian households actually subscribe to fixed broadband, slightly below the EU household average (~78–80%) trade.gov. High-speed subscriptions (100+ Mbps) are still relatively low in Croatia (around 16% of households in 2021, though growing) en.wikipedia.org, compared to over 40% EU-wide – indicating many Croatian users are on slower plans or legacy tech. This is changing as fiber spreads, but it highlights a lag in take-up even where availability exists.

Mobile broadband in Croatia is more on par with Europe. 4G coverage at 98% is above EU average, and mobile broadband user penetration (around 81% of population) matches the EU level trade.gov. 5G rollout started later than in some early-adopter countries, so by 2023 Croatia’s 5G population coverage (~70-80% on paper) was a bit behind the EU average (~89% of area covered) trade.gov. However, all EU countries are racing toward the 2030 goal of full 5G in populated areas, and Croatia is expected to catch up. In digital skills and usage, Croatia does quite well – for example, it boasts one of the highest rates of young people with advanced digital skills in Europe trade.gov. So, while its infrastructure metrics lag Nordic or Benelux leaders, in terms of internet use Croatia is closer to the EU mainstream (Croatians engage in online news, video calls, e-banking, etc. at rates comparable to EU averages) trade.gov.

Regional Peers: Among the Western Balkans and neighboring states, Croatia is ahead in some respects and behind in others. Slovenia, its EU neighbor to the northwest, has often been cited as doing better on fiber and 5G. Slovenia has aggressively deployed FTTH – by the early 2020s it had roughly 90% NGA broadband coverage and today enjoys higher average fixed speeds (median ~90 Mbps vs Croatia’s ~50 Mbps) worldpopulationreview.com. Slovenian operators (like Telekom Slovenije) started 10 Gbps fiber offerings and extensive rural fiber projects a few years ahead of Croatia, and Slovenia’s DESI connectivity rank has been slightly higher. On mobile, Slovenia and Croatia are comparable, both having near-total 4G coverage and expanding 5G (Slovenia saw quick progress in 5G coverage, reaching many areas by 2024).

To the east, non-EU neighbors Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina have historically lagged in fixed broadband but are catching up. Serbia’s household internet penetration (around 83% in 2022) is actually close to Croatia’s, and about 75% of Serbian households use fixed broadband (often cable or DSL) freedomhouse.org. However, Serbia’s rural areas still face very old infrastructure, and fiber is mostly confined to Belgrade and larger cities. Serbia’s fixed broadband speed averages have been lower – in 2023 the median fixed download in Serbia was ~66 Mbps freedomhouse.org, whereas Croatia’s median was around 50–55 Mbps (a bit hard to compare directly, but Croatia’s increasing fiber will likely push its average speeds higher soon). Notably, Serbia was late to launch 5G (auctions were delayed till 2023/24) freedomhouse.org, so Croatia’s head start means it has more 5G coverage at the moment. Bosnia and Herzegovina, as another neighbor, has had even more challenges: many areas rely on ADSL and a couple of cable providers; fiber penetration is low outside a few urban centers. Average broadband speeds in Bosnia were only ~28 Mbps in 2023 on fixed and ~22 Mbps on mobile pulse.internetsociety.org – considerably behind Croatia’s averages. Bosnia does not yet have commercial 5G and is working on expanding 4G to rural pockets. Montenegro and North Macedonia have small populations and patchy fiber; they depend on mobile broadband to reach remote users (North Macedonia interestingly had high mobile web usage but still developing fixed networks). In short, Croatia leads most of ex-Yugoslav countries in modernizing its networks, thanks in part to EU investments, though Slovenia outperforms Croatia in fiber coverage.

Comparative Table – Croatia vs. EU and Neighbors (Key Metrics, ~2023)

Table notes: EU average data from DESI and Digital Agenda Scoreboard. “Fast broadband” typically means ≥30 Mbps NGA networks. VHCN = Very High Capacity Network (fiber or Docsis3.1 cable). Slovenia and Serbia figures are approximate for comparison only. Mobile 5G in Croatia includes low-band coverage; mid-band (3.5 GHz) gives higher speeds but less coverage so far trade.gov.

From the comparison, we see Croatia has work to do to reach EU averages, especially in rural fiber and gigabit coverage. However, it is ahead of many Western Balkan countries that lack EU funding – for example, Serbia and Bosnia are only now ramping up fiber deployments that Croatia started earlier. Croatia’s mobile networks are a regional bright spot (4G nearly everywhere, 5G launched ahead of neighbors). Also, the digital literacy and usage in Croatia are relatively advanced given its infrastructure status – a positive sign that once high-speed networks reach everyone, the populace is ready to take advantage.

Trends, Challenges, and Future Outlook (2025–2030)

Looking ahead, Croatia’s internet connectivity is on track for major improvements, driven by both technological trends and strategic initiatives. The period from 2025 to 2030 is expected to transform Croatia into a much more “future-proofed” digital environment, although certain challenges will need continued attention.

Fiber to Everywhere: The clearest trend is the continued rollout of fiber-optic networks. By 2030, Croatia aims to achieve universal coverage with networks that can be upgraded to gigabit speeds img.corrierecomunicazioni.it img.corrierecomunicazioni.it. Hrvatski Telekom and A1 are each investing heavily in FTTH – HT’s goal of 1.1 million gigabit-enabled households (out of ~1.5 million total) is likely to be met around 2025–2026, bringing fiber to roughly 75% of homes t.ht.hr t.ht.hr. A1 and Telemach will cover much of the rest, often supported by government tenders to wire up “white areas.” We can expect that DSL and aging copper lines will be largely phased out by 2030, with fiber or cable upgrades reaching even many rural towns. The government’s broadband plan explicitly targets all households for 100+ Mbps by 2025 and pushing toward gigabit by 2030 digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. One challenge will be the remote hamlets and islands – some of these may not be economically feasible for fiber. In those cases, solutions like fixed 5G wireless or satellite (e.g. Starlink) will remain important to hit the “broadband for all” objective. Another challenge is coordinating right-of-way and investment for overlapping networks: the regulator will need to ensure smaller ISPs can access infrastructure (ducts, poles or wholesale fiber) to avoid leaving any area a monopoly. By 2030, it’s plausible that Croatia’s fiber coverage could exceed 90% of households (similar to where Spain or Portugal are heading), essentially future-proofing the fixed network with multi-gigabit capacity.

5G Ubiquity and 6G on Horizon: In mobile, the next five years will see 5G fully mature across Croatia. The 5G licenses issued in 2021 included obligations – e.g. major highways, rail lines, and urban centers must have extensive 5G by 2025, and at least 50% of rural areas by 2027 en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Operators are deploying new 5G base stations, including on the 700 MHz band (for wide coverage) and 3.5 GHz band (for high capacity). By 2030, we can expect essentially nationwide 5G coverage of populated areas, in line with the EU’s “100% 5G coverage” target img.corrierecomunicazioni.it img.corrierecomunicazioni.it. This will enable new applications in IoT, smart agriculture in rural regions, and high-speed wireless broadband as an alternative to fiber in some cases.

Simultaneously, the groundwork for 6G will likely begin toward 2028–2030. Croatia, through EU collaborations, will participate in research and trials for next-gen networks. Given its active role in EU digital initiatives (e.g. a Croatian Quantum Communication Infrastructure consortium was formed in 2023 trade.gov), Croatia is poised to adopt new telecom technologies on a timeline close to the EU mainstream. While 6G standards won’t be finalized until around 2028, by 2030 Croatia could see pilot 6G deployments or at least upgrades in network core to prepare for it.

Convergence and New Services: Another trend is the convergence of services and the growth of cloud, IoT, and digital services riding on better networks. As broadband spreads, Croatia is seeing more digital TV (OTT streaming), smart home gadgets, e-learning platforms, etc. The period up to 2030 will likely bring wider adoption of things like connected sensors in agriculture (important for Croatia’s rural economy), telemedicine in remote areas, and expansion of e-government. The improved connectivity will also support Croatia’s burgeoning IT sector and enable remote work in the scenic regions (potentially reducing urban migration). Government digitalization will continue – by 2030, expect even more robust e-government and smart city projects (although as of mid-2020s Croatia was still behind Western Europe in smart city infrastructure) trade.gov.

Challenges: Despite the optimistic trajectory, certain challenges must be managed:

• Rural and Island Connectivity: The “last few percent” problem – reaching scattered households in sparsely populated areas – will persist. Some islands and villages may still rely on wireless or satellite in 2030. Ensuring those solutions are affordable and high-quality is key so that these residents aren’t left with second-class internet. The government may need to extend subsidies or enforce coverage obligations so that no pocket is left unconnected.
• Investment and Competition: The heavy investment required for nationwide fiber/5G (Croatia is using a mix of private capital and EU funds) must be sustained. Economic downturns or changes in EU funding could slow progress. Also, maintaining competition is crucial so that once networks are built, consumers benefit from reasonable prices. Right now, HT’s dominance is a concern developingtelecoms.com. Regulators might consider requiring network sharing (open access fiber) or continue reserving spectrum for new entrants to prevent duopolies from simply dividing the market.
• Affordability and Digital Skills: As gigabit networks roll out, ensuring that all citizens can afford to connect and have the skills to utilize the internet fully is important. Croatia’s broadband prices have been relatively high as a percentage of income for lower earners. By 2030, with EU support, we might see social tariffs or wider public Wi-Fi to guarantee inclusivity. Meanwhile, Croatia’s strong digital education among youth should be extended to older populations so that services like telehealth or online banking truly reach everyone (particularly in rural areas with aging demographics).
• Technological Evolution: The networks deployed now need to be future-proof. This means fiber networks should aim for upgradable electronics to reach 10 Gbps and beyond in the future (XGS-PON, etc.), and 5G infrastructure should be ready for later 5G-Advanced features. The future-proofing seems in good shape given fiber and 5G are inherently upgradable. Additionally, new tech like satellite 2.0 (mega-constellations) and possibly HAPS (High Altitude Platform Stations) or other innovative solutions might come into play for hard-to-cover spots. Croatia could leverage these if needed (perhaps joining EU’s IRIS² satellite program by ~2027 for governmental and remote area connectivity).

In conclusion, by 2025 Croatia has built a solid foundation and is moving fast to eliminate the remaining digital gaps. The near future (2025–2030) will likely see Croatia meet or even exceed European connectivity benchmarks: gigabit fiber widely available, 5G ubiquitous, and alternative technologies ensuring even the most remote cottage can get online. The country’s partnership with the EU and its national commitment to digital development will be critical in overcoming challenges of geography and economics. If plans stay on course, the question “How future-proof is Croatia’s internet?” by 2030 could be answered with: fully future-proofed – a nation where ultra-fast, reliable internet truly reaches everyone, enabling Croatia’s society and economy to thrive in the digital age. digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu

Sources:

• U.S. Department of Commerce – Croatia ICT and Digital Economy Reports (2023) trade.gov trade.gov trade.gov
• European Commission – Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) & Croatia Connectivity (2022–2024) trade.gov digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
• Wikipedia – Internet in Croatia (updated 2024), historical data and provider info en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
• Freedom House – Freedom on the Net 2023: Serbia (for regional comparison) freedomhouse.org
• Bug.hr Tech News – A1 Hrvatska introduces Starlink (2025) bug.hr bug.hr
• European Commission – Broadband in rural Croatia projects (2020–21) ec.europa.eu digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
• Developing Telecoms – Croatia market share and regulatory news (2023) developingtelecoms.com budde.com.au
• BuddeComm Research – Croatia Telecoms Market Analysis 2022 budde.com.au budde.com.au