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Digital Divide Country Profile · Europe

HR

Croatia

Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.

Location in the world

Croatia

Flag of Croatia

Europe

World map showing the location of CroatiaCroatia
🇭🇷
Population (2024)
3,866,200
Total area
56,594 km²
Area in square miles
21,851.06 mi²
Coastline
5,835 km
Base map adapted from Wikimedia Commons. Population: World Bank (2024); geography: CIA World Factbook.

National digital inclusion context

A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.

This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Croatia in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.

The documented portfolio emphasizes Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding, Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure, Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure, 5G, Fiber/Fiber Optic. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.

Portfolio pattern

What the documented response contains.

Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.

Infrastructure and access

  1. Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding7
  2. Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure5
  3. Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure5
  4. Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure4
  5. Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure1

Specific technologies

  1. 5G4
  2. Fiber/Fiber Optic2
  3. Digital Identity / e-ID1
  4. E-Learning / Virtual Learning1
  5. Edge Computing1

Intervention classification

  1. Infrastructure and Specific Technology8
  2. Infrastructure only6
  3. Specific Technology only1

Education and workforce

Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.

2 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 0 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.

Access

Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.

Capability

Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.

Participation

Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.

Sustainability

Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.

Project and initiative portfolio

15 documented records

Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.

01

Cross-border 5G corridor planning

Cross-border 5G Slovenia–Croatia corridor study

Study / CEF Digital · Slovenia–Croatia
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Status / periodStudy / CEF DigitalLocationSlovenia–CroatiaPopulationTravelers, transport/logistics and connected-mobility servicesOrganizationsCroatian/Slovenian partners; CEF Digital

Prepares interoperable high-performance connectivity across the border.

Activities and approach: 5G corridor feasibility; interoperability planning

Mobile / Wireless InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding5G
02

Education digital transformation

Digitalisation of higher education and e-learning investment

RRP implementation · Higher-education institutions nationwide
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Status / periodRRP implementationLocationHigher-education institutions nationwidePopulationUniversity students, faculty and staffOrganizationsCroatian education authorities; RRF

Improves access to digital teaching and learning tools.

Activities and approach: E-learning systems; digital teaching tools; institutional capacity

E-Learning / Virtual Learning
EducationCollege / university
03

Next-generation access deployment framework

Framework National Programme for NGA access (ONP)

Implementation / legacy-to-current framework · White/underserved areas
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Status / periodImplementation / legacy-to-current frameworkLocationWhite/underserved areasPopulationHouseholds and local institutionsOrganizationsGovernment of Croatia

Structures public support for access networks in areas where commercial deployment is not viable.

Activities and approach: NGA/FTTH; local broadband projects.

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / FundingFTTH
04

Broadband transparency and consumer access

HAKOM broadband mapping and HAKOMetar tools

Operational · Nationwide
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Status / periodOperationalLocationNationwidePopulationConsumers, planners and policymakersOrganizationsHAKOM

Improves information about availability/performance for targeting and consumer choice.

Activities and approach: Coverage mapping; speed measurement; public information tools

Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding
05

Rural gigabit infrastructure

Imotski and surroundings passive communications infrastructure

Implementation · Imotski and surroundings
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Status / periodImplementationLocationImotski and surroundingsPopulationHouseholds, firms and institutions in underserved areasOrganizationsCroatian project authority; RRF

Closes fixed broadband coverage gaps through publicly supported buildout.

Activities and approach: Passive broadband infrastructure; VHCN-ready access

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure
06

National VHCN implementation program

National Broadband Development Plan 2021–2027 implementation

2021–2027 · National
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Status / period2021–2027LocationNationalPopulationHouseholds, schools, health facilities and government buildingsOrganizationsGovernment of Croatia

Targets at least 100 Mbps for all households and symmetric gigabit connectivity for major public institutions.

Activities and approach: VHCN; fiber; public-institution gigabit connectivity.

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / FundingFiber/Fiber Optic
EducationK–12
07

State-aid broadband infrastructure scheme

National Framework Programme for Broadband Infrastructure Development (NP-BBI)

EU programming period / implementation · Underserved areas
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Status / periodEU programming period / implementationLocationUnderserved areasPopulationHouseholds and socio-economic drivers in areas lacking NGAOrganizationsMinistry of Regional Development and EU Funds

Publicly supports backhaul/access infrastructure where private investment is insufficient.

Activities and approach: NGA broadband; state aid; regional networks.

Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding
08

Rural gigabit infrastructure

Neretva passive communications infrastructure

Implementation · Neretva area
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Status / periodImplementationLocationNeretva areaPopulationHouseholds, firms and institutions lacking NGA accessOrganizationsCroatian project authority; RRF

Extends gigabit-capable infrastructure into non-commercial coverage areas.

Activities and approach: Passive fiber/broadband infrastructure; open wholesale access

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic
09

Rural/island gigabit infrastructure

Pašman and surroundings passive communications infrastructure

Implementation · Pašman and surroundings
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Status / periodImplementationLocationPašman and surroundingsPopulationHouseholds, firms and institutions in white NGA areasOrganizationsCroatian project authority; RRF

Builds passive infrastructure for VHCN service in underserved island/rural areas.

Activities and approach: Passive broadband infrastructure; wholesale access

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure
10

Digital public infrastructure / e-government

Public administration digitalisation, digital ID and one-stop portal

RRP implementation · Nationwide
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Status / periodRRP implementationLocationNationwidePopulationResidents and businesses using government servicesOrganizationsCroatian government; RRF

Reduces access friction through expanded online services and identification.

Activities and approach: Digital identity; one-stop portal; public-administration systems

Digital Public InfrastructureDigital Identity / e-ID
11

Rural 5G infrastructure

RRP 14 rural 5G passive-infrastructure masts

Implementation through 2026 · Eligible low-density rural areas
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Status / periodImplementation through 2026LocationEligible low-density rural areasPopulationResidents in areas without planned commercial 4G/5G expansionOrganizationsCroatian authorities; HAKOM / RRF

Targets mobile coverage gaps where market incentives are insufficient.

Activities and approach: 14 masts with associated passive infrastructure

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G
12

Rural mobile broadband infrastructure

RRP 5G infrastructure for rural areas

2021–2026 · Rural Croatia
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Status / period2021–2026LocationRural CroatiaPopulationRural residents and transport usersOrganizationsGovernment of Croatia

Expands 5G electronic communications infrastructure in rural areas to reduce geographic connectivity gaps.

Activities and approach: 5G infrastructure; mobile coverage.

Mobile / Wireless InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding5G
13

Rural gigabit infrastructure investment

RRP gigabit connectivity investment for rural areas

2021–2026 · Rural Croatia
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Status / period2021–2026LocationRural CroatiaPopulationRural households and communitiesOrganizationsGovernment of Croatia

EUR 130 million investment aimed at increasing gigabit coverage in rural areas.

Activities and approach: Gigabit fixed broadband; public investment.

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding
14

Gigabit broadband deployment

RRP nationwide gigabit deployment – 20 project portfolio

Implementation / 2021-2026 · Commercially unattractive areas nationwide
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Status / periodImplementation / 2021-2026LocationCommercially unattractive areas nationwidePopulationAbout 100,000 additional householdsOrganizationsCroatian authorities; EU RRF

Funds VHCN access where private investment alone is not viable.

Activities and approach: 20 projects; ≥100 Mbps connections upgradeable to gigabit

Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure
15

5G for public services

SmartPortPloče private standalone 5G network

2024-2026 · Port of Ploče
View details
Status / period2024-2026LocationPort of PločePopulationPort users, logistics operators and safety teamsOrganizationsPort of Ploče Authority; Markoja; CEF Digital

Uses advanced connectivity to improve public-service quality, logistics and safety.

Activities and approach: Private 5G SA core/RAN; outdoor/indoor cells; sensors; edge cloud

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5GEdge Computing

Evidence boundary

Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.

Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.

Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.

Evidence and contextProfile Sources

These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.

  1. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Croatia. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/croatia/
  2. International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
  3. World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Croatia. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=HR
  4. World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Croatia. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=HR

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