Internet connections with the speeds exceeding 100 Mbit/s are on the rise

Transition to high capacity networks had influence in the growth of those with the speeds exceeding 100 Mbit/s. At the end of September, one of the three users of the fixed internet had contracted these speeds.

ZAGREB, 9 December 2022 – A positive investment trend continues on the electronic communications market. Investments in high capacity networks (VHCN) recorded 17% growth while investments in base stations (BTS) in mobile communications networks have recorded 9 % growth compared to the same period last year. In the first three quarters, total market revenues amounted to HRK 8.9 billion and increased by 3.2 %, mostly due to broadband internet access services with a growth of 6 %, networks and line rental with a growth of 3.2 % and pay TV whose revenues recorded a 4 %growth In the third quarter, the migration of users to fiber optic FTTH/B technology continued, primarily those who had previously used copper pair internet access.

The number of such connections is in the 30 % growth compared to the same period last year. Total data traffic over fixed and mobile networks increases by 26% on average over the same period. The share of users of broadband connections with a speed of more than 100 Mbit/s is also increasing, which was 34 % at the end of September, i.e. one of the three users of the fixed internet has agreed access speeds.

The duration of the call by foreign roaming citizens indicates a good tourist season and 460 million roaming minutes of conversation were spent in the summer months, which, compared to the same period in 2021, (a 2 % increase). The number of SMS and MMS messages sent is expected to be significantly lower than the year before (a decrease of 21 percent and 30 percent, respectively).

The number of pay TV connections is stagnating and there are only four thousand more connections compared to the third quarter of previous year. At the end of September, there were 877 thousand such connections, total revenues from services grew by 4.3 %, and almost 63 % of households watch television via one of the models of pay TV. By comparison, 59% of households watched pay TV in the third quarter of 2021.

The fixed telephone services market has also recorded decline in this quarter. Compared to the same monitoring period in 2021, total outbound traffic of fixed public communications network operators decreased by1%, total revenues decreased by 7.5 % and the number of users decreased by 1.8 %.

Data on the electronic communications market are available on the website of the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) at the following link.