Hrvatski Telekom has announced its intention to deploy private 5G networks at three Croatian airports, Zagreb, Zadar and Pula, in a move it reckons will accelerate the digital transformation of the country’s aviation infrastructure. The ‘NextGen 5G Airports’ project, developed in collaboration with infrastructure company Markoja, the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, and the participating airports, has been submitted for co-financing under the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. The proposed investment totals €5.6 million.
“Private 5G networks are becoming a key tool for improving operational efficiency, safety and innovation in everyday airport operations,” said Hrvatski Telekom chief technology and information officer Boris Drilo (above). “As air travel continues to grow, airports must transform, and that demands digitalisation across multiple dimensions. Connectivity, powered by 5G, lies at the heart of that evolution.”
According to Drilo, if the CEF application is successful, the airports could benefit from three years of free access to standalone 5G (5G SA) technologies, enabling the development of advanced processes without upfront infrastructure costs. The project aims to give airports full control over their networks, from planning and deployment through to management and upgrades.
At Zagreb Airport, a drone equipped with an ultra-high-definition camera and AI-powered analytics will be used to speed up inspections of its 188,000 sqm runway and 14 kilometres of fencing. This is intended to enable real-time identification of irregularities and support data-driven maintenance recommendations. Pula Airport plans to deploy 50 UHD cameras and sensors along its perimeter fence to detect breaches or damage. Meanwhile, Zadar Airport will equip its teams with rugged industrial tablets running AI software, allowing inspection data to be automatically processed, rather than reported manually over radio.
Flexible 5G
Marijana Bačić, Hrvatski Telekom’s board member for business customers and Combis CEO, said the operator’s strategic focus is on “developing flexible private 5G solutions that enable airports to digitise key processes – from staff scheduling to predictive infrastructure maintenance. These investments will help Croatian airports become more competitive and resilient, while delivering excellent user experiences.”
Speaking at the panel discussion, Miran Gosta, director general of Croatian regulatory authority HAKOM, said: “We are able to allocate spectrum for private 5G networks on a micro-location basis under very favourable conditions. European financial instruments make such projects even more accessible, while partnerships with operators provide the technical expertise needed for rapid deployment.”
Boris Markoja, CEO and board member at Markoja, added that private 5G is redefining infrastructure. “These networks are no longer merely about connectivity – they form the foundation for digitalising and automating complex systems like ports and airports. At Markoja, we’re integrating 5G with AI, edge computing and IoT to build secure, scalable and efficient operational environments,” he said.
Matija Bračić of the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences said: “Private 5G networks offer ultra-low latency, high throughput and network slicing capabilities that allow different applications and systems to run in parallel, each with defined priorities and security protocols. This is essential for airports, where sensitive operations can be isolated within dedicated network segments.”
He added: “Such a framework supports faster integration of drones and autonomous vehicles into daily airport operations and lays the groundwork for new air traffic management models aligned with European and international aviation safety and digitalisation standards.”
Marin Tica, head of IT at Zagreb Airport, also highlighted the potential of private 5G for operational improvements across mobility, safety and automation, especially on the airside. “This is a clear opportunity for stakeholders to upgrade their processes and service quality,” he said.
The project is part of a broader push under the EU’s CEF Digital programme, which supports large-scale pilot projects that combine next-generation 5G connectivity with edge computing in strategic sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and transport.
Source: https://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/hrvatski-telekom-launches-private-5g-airport-project/
