Deutsche Telekom’s Hrvatski Telekom Secures €6.7M EU Funding for 5G SA Private Networks at Three Croatian Airports

Hrvatski Telekom’s Private 5G SA Deployment: A Technical Blueprint for Critical Infrastructure

The “NextGen 5G Airports” project, backed by €6.7 million from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital program, represents a significant investment in standalone (SA) 5G architecture for industrial use. Hrvatski Telekom, leveraging Deutsche Telekom’s group expertise, is deploying a private 5G core network at each airport, completely separate from the public mobile network. This ensures dedicated, ultra-reliable connectivity with guaranteed latency and bandwidth, essential for safety-critical operations.

The network will utilize the 3.5 GHz spectrum band, which offers a balance between capacity and coverage for these medium-sized airport environments. The deployment includes a multi-access edge computing (MEC) platform at each site, enabling real-time data processing for applications like AI-based video analytics for perimeter security and automated airside inspections. This local processing reduces latency and bandwidth demands on the core network, while also addressing data sovereignty concerns by keeping sensitive operational data on-premises.

The technical implementation focuses on network slicing within the private core to create isolated virtual networks for different airport functions: one slice for high-definition video streams from surveillance drones, another for ultra-low-latency communication between ground vehicles and control towers, and a third for high-volume data transfer from baggage handling systems. This granular control is a hallmark of 5G SA, which public non-standalone (NSA) networks cannot provide.

Market Impact: Redefining the B2B Telecom Service Portfolio

This project is a strategic move by Deutsche Telekom’s OpCo, Hrvatski Telekom, to capture a high-value vertical market segment. For telecom operators, airports represent a premium B2B customer with stringent requirements for reliability, security, and performance. Successfully deploying and managing a private 5G SA network for such a critical national infrastructure client establishes a powerful reference case that can be replicated across other industries like ports, factories, and energy plants.

The €6.7M EU funding is a critical enabler, reducing the initial capital burden for the operator and the airports. It demonstrates how public funding mechanisms like CEF Digital are accelerating the adoption of advanced digital infrastructure in Europe. For Hrvatski Telekom, the project transitions its role from a connectivity wholesaler to a full-stack digital solutions provider. The revenue model likely combines a recurring managed service fee for the private network operation with project-based fees for integrating specific applications like the AI inspection systems.

This deployment also impacts the competitive landscape in Croatia and the wider Adriatic region. By securing a long-term contract with three major state-owned airports (Zagreb, Zadar, Pula), Hrvatski Telekom strengthens its position as the leading infrastructure partner for national digitalization projects. It creates a barrier for competitors aiming to enter the high-stakes critical infrastructure market.

Strategic Implications for European and Global Telecom Operators

The Croatian airport project is not an isolated case but part of a broader European trend. The EU’s Digital Decade targets and funding instruments like CEF are actively pushing for the modernization of transport, energy, and public sector infrastructure with advanced connectivity. Telecom operators across Europe are positioning themselves as the natural partners for these upgrades, given their existing spectrum assets, network engineering expertise, and scale.

For global operators, the blueprint from this project is clear: the future of B2B growth lies in deploying dedicated, standards-based private 5G SA networks for industrial clients. The key is moving beyond simple connectivity to offering integrated solutions that include edge computing, IoT management, and industry-specific applications (like the drone-based runway inspection system). This requires operators to build or partner for vertical-specific software capabilities.

In regions like Africa and MENA, where major airport expansions and smart city projects are underway, this model is highly relevant. Operators such as MTN, Vodacom, or Ooredoo could leverage similar partnerships with airport authorities, potentially seeking funding from development banks or national digital transformation funds. The technical requirements—reliability, security, localized data processing—are universal for critical infrastructure.

Forward-Looking Analysis: The Airport as a Telecom Microcosm

The “NextGen 5G Airports” initiative will serve as a live testbed for technologies that will define next-generation industrial networks. The integration of AI analytics on the edge, real-time coordination of autonomous ground vehicles, and secure, sliced connectivity for multiple tenants (airport authority, airlines, ground handlers, security services) mirrors the complex demands of future smart factories, automated logistics hubs, and even smart urban districts.

For the telecom sector, the operational learnings from managing a 24/7 critical infrastructure network will be invaluable. Issues of network resilience, security patch management, and multi-vendor application integration in a private 5G environment will generate best practices that can be commercialized. Furthermore, the project’s success will likely trigger similar investments in other Croatian transport hubs, like the Port of Rijeka, and influence procurement decisions in neighboring Balkan states.

Ultimately, this deployment underscores a fundamental shift: the most valuable network assets for operators may no longer be the public macro cells covering cities, but the dedicated, private micro-netways embedded within the continent’s critical economic infrastructure. The race to build and operate these industrial digital backbones is now underway.