Croatian Airports Deploy Deutsche Telekom 5G SA Private Networks for Operational Efficiency

Source: Deutsche Telekom Group Blog, February 19, 2026. Hrvatski Telekom (HT), the Croatian subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, is deploying private, standalone (SA) 5G networks at three major Croatian airports—Zagreb, Zadar, and Pula—as part of the EU-funded “NextGen 5G Airports” project. The initiative, showcased at MWC 2026, aims to create a digital backbone for mission-critical airport operations, including AI-driven security, real-time ground handling coordination, and automated airside inspections. This deployment represents a significant step in the commercialization of 5G SA for critical infrastructure in Europe, backed by a €4.3 million grant from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital program.

Technical Architecture and Use Cases of the 5G SA Airport Deployment

The core of the “NextGen 5G Airports” project is the deployment of private, on-premise 5G Standalone (SA) networks. Unlike non-standalone (NSA) architectures that rely on a 4G core, 5G SA provides a fully independent network with its own core, enabling ultra-low latency, enhanced security, and network slicing. For airports, this translates to deterministic performance for time-sensitive applications. Hrvatski Telekom is implementing the networks using dedicated spectrum, likely within the 3.7-3.8 GHz range commonly allocated for local industrial use in Europe, ensuring complete isolation from public mobile traffic.

Key use cases being trialed and deployed include:

• AI-Enhanced Perimeter Security: High-definition, 360-degree cameras mounted on light poles stream live video feeds over the 5G network to an on-site edge computing platform. AI algorithms analyze the feeds in real-time to detect unauthorized intrusions, suspicious loitering, or abandoned objects, triggering immediate alerts to security personnel.
• Real-Time Ground Handling Coordination: Ground staff are equipped with ruggedized tablets or AR glasses connected to the private 5G network. This allows for live sharing of aircraft turnaround data, baggage loading status, and refueling updates, synchronizing operations between airline handlers, fuelers, caterers, and cleaning crews to minimize aircraft on-ground time.
• Automated Airside Inspections: Drones and autonomous ground vehicles are used to inspect runways, taxiways, and perimeter fencing. These devices transmit high-resolution imagery and sensor data over the 5G network for immediate analysis, identifying pavement cracks, Foreign Object Debris (FOD), or fence damage more efficiently than manual patrols.
• Digital Twin & Asset Tracking: The network supports the creation of a live digital twin of the airport. Critical assets like ground power units, baggage carts, and service vehicles are fitted with IoT sensors, providing real-time location data to optimize logistics and prevent losses.

The deployment features a localized edge computing node at each airport, ensuring data from these critical applications is processed on-site. This minimizes latency for real-time analytics and addresses stringent data sovereignty requirements, a key concern for airport authorities and national security regulators.

Industry Impact: A Blueprint for Critical Infrastructure and Operator Revenue

The Croatian airport project serves as a concrete blueprint for how telecom operators can transition from being connectivity providers to becoming strategic partners for critical national infrastructure (CNI). For Deutsche Telekom and its OpCos, this represents a high-value, non-consumer revenue stream with significant stickiness. The project demonstrates a repeatable model: leveraging EU digital infrastructure grants to fund initial deployment, then transitioning to a managed service contract with the airport authority.

For Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), the technical and commercial implications are profound:

• Spectrum Strategy: Success in the private network arena requires access to dedicated, locally licensed spectrum. Operators must engage with national regulators to secure allocations in bands like 3.7-3.8 GHz or the emerging 6 GHz range for industrial use.
• Systems Integration Capability: Winning such contracts demands deep systems integration (SI) expertise. Operators must partner with or develop capabilities in IoT platforms, AI analytics, edge computing hardware, and cybersecurity to deliver a turnkey solution, not just a radio network.
• Partnership Ecosystems: The deployment involves a consortium. In this case, Hrvatski Telekom is working with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb (FER) for R&D and AI model development, and with the airport operators themselves. Building and leading such ecosystems is critical.
• Competitive Landscape: This space pits traditional MNOs against specialized private network vendors (e.g., Nokia, Ericsson), hyperscalers (AWS Private 5G, Azure Private MEC), and neutral host providers. The operator’s advantage lies in existing national scale, security credentials, and trusted relationships with enterprises and government bodies.

The commercial model likely combines an upfront network build-out cost with an ongoing managed service fee covering network operations, security updates, and application support. This creates a predictable, recurring revenue stream far more resilient than volatile consumer ARPU.

Strategic Implications for European and Global Telecom Markets

This deployment, funded by the EU’s CEF Digital program, is a direct manifestation of European digital sovereignty and industrial policy. The EU is actively funding projects that advance its technological autonomy and digital infrastructure goals. For telecom operators across Europe, this signals a substantial funding avenue for pioneering 5G SA deployments in verticals like transport, manufacturing, and ports. Operators must develop strong grant application and public affairs teams to capitalize on these opportunities.

For the broader Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, Croatia’s move sets a precedent. As a popular tourist destination with seasonal traffic spikes, Croatian airports require robust, scalable infrastructure. A successful deployment here will be closely watched by airport authorities in neighboring Slovenia, Hungary, Greece, and Italy, creating a regional domino effect for private 5G adoption in aviation.

Globally, the project underscores the aviation industry’s shift towards becoming “smart airports.” The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has highlighted digital transformation as key to improving efficiency, safety, and passenger experience. Telecom infrastructure is now recognized as the foundational layer for this transformation. Similar projects are underway at Changi Airport (Singapore), Dallas Fort Worth (US), and Frankfurt (Germany), but the Croatian model—driven by a national telecom champion with EU support—offers a replicable path for mid-sized airports worldwide.

The emphasis on digital sovereignty and on-premise edge computing also reflects a growing trend: critical infrastructure owners are increasingly reluctant to route operational data through public clouds or centralized data centers outside their jurisdiction. Private 5G with local edge satisfies this demand for control and compliance.

Forward-Looking Analysis: The Runway for 5G SA in Critical Infrastructure

The “NextGen 5G Airports” project is more than a pilot; it is a commercial launchpad. Its success will be measured by the seamless integration of use cases into daily airport operations and the tangible ROI delivered in operational efficiency and security. For the telecom sector, it validates the enterprise and government market as the primary growth engine for 5G beyond enhanced mobile broadband.

Looking ahead, we anticipate several developments:

1. Network Slicing Maturity: Future phases will likely implement dedicated network slices for different service level agreements (SLAs)—a “security slice” with guaranteed bandwidth for cameras, a “logistics slice” for asset tracking, and a “passenger slice” for public Wi-Fi offload.
2. Convergence with Satellite: For comprehensive coverage, especially in remote airfield areas, 5G private networks may integrate with Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), using satellite backhaul or direct-to-device connectivity for complete operational visibility.
3. Standardization and Interoperability: As deployments proliferate, pressure will mount for standardized APIs and interfaces between different vendors’ 5G cores, edge platforms, and airport operational systems to avoid vendor lock-in.
4. Regulatory Evolution: National regulators will need to streamline processes for licensing local spectrum to enterprises and operators for such critical use cases, balancing spectrum efficiency with the need for guaranteed, interference-free operation.

For infrastructure investors, the clear takeaway is that capital is shifting towards building specialized, high-performance networks for industry. Tower companies may see new demand for on-site edge data centers, while fiber providers will find renewed purpose in connecting these distributed edge nodes. The Croatian airports project, led by Deutsche Telekom’s local arm, is a definitive signal that the future of telecom revenue lies not in the handset, but in the foundational digital systems that keep critical industries—and economies—running.