13.7.2018
- The modernization of the radio access network in Istria has just been completed making Istria the first region in the country with the most modern equipment that will enable 5G functionality
- Today in Pula, Hrvatski Telekom demonstrated live the functionalities of the fifth-generation network on the first 5G equipment in Croatia at 3.5 MHz
- 5G functionality has been demonstrated at the improvised football field with the techniques by the NK Istra’s first team players
Iva Šulentić, Boris Drilo - CTIO Hrvatski Telekom, Ivan Barać - Sales and Marketing director for HT from Ericsson Nikola Tesla and players of NK Istra 1961
Today in Pula, Hrvatski Telekom marked the end of the modernization of the radio access network on the territory of Istria, thus creating the preconditions for the implementation of the 5G network in this area. Istria has thus become the first region in the country with the latest equipment installed, which includes the additional 4G network capacity and the latest functionalities (IoT). Hrvatski Telekom has fully prepared Istria for the tourist season and has made it easy for users to use HT mobile services even during peak network traffic.
In early 2018, Hrvatski Telekom initiated the modernization of the radio access network. This network will enable the introduction of 5G technology as soon as the required radio frequency spectrum is allocated to it. The project encompasses the modernization of infrastructure, transport capacities and radio equipment itself.
By the end of 2019, Hrvatski Telekom plans to modernize the radio access network in the whole of Croatia, and the first step has already been achieved - in the first half of the year, HT replaced all 137 of the base stations with the new 5G-compatible ones in Istria.
Since the beginning of July, activities continued on the territory of the City of Zagreb.
These are the introduction of the SRAN (Single RAN) concept, which ensures the coexistence of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G on the same equipment, enabling doubling the capacity of the 4G network and the latest functionality like IoT. All HT customers will have access to increased capacities, which will ensure the smooth use of HT mobile services even during the peak network traffic.
In addition, the new radio equipment, which is partly designed and manufactured by Ericsson Nikola Tesla, is realized in the so-called feederless (non-cable) mode, completely obliterating long cable routes and their losses, and brings the optical transmission to an antenna where radio amplifiers are housed. In this way, new equipment provides better 3G and 4G coverage, with significantly lower electricity consumption. HT will thus immediately improve the availability of 3G and 4G services for its customers, especially in indoor environments, as well as enable new transmitters to be deployed in areas where the sole source of electricity is a solar cell or wind turbine power.
Last year, Hrvatski Telekom invested 1.745 billion kunas in infrastructure, or 8.5 percent more than in 2016. In the last four years, more than six billion kunas have been invested in total.
Today, HT also demonstrated live the fifth-generation network functionalities on the first 5G equipment at the 3.5 GHz frequency spectrum in Croatia. NK Istra's players Elvis Trešnjić and Antonio Gračić have successfully shown techniques, shooting at the goal, and scoring goals on the improvised pitch using VR goggles that reproduce the video that was transmitted real-time via the 5G network. The maximum realized transfer rate per user is 1.4 Gbp/s and the delay is around 3 ms on the radio interface. This delay is the key difference in the capabilities of 5G technology compared to older generation networks. HT has demonstrated realistic possibilities of the 5G technology expected in the Republic of Croatia in 2020, which is just the first step in the development of 5G technology possibilities.
“Hrvatski Telekom is constantly preparing for a new era of technological change with the appropriate network and services and was the first in Croatia to introduce 5G. Although digitization already offers fantastic opportunities, 5G will, like the internet, bring all social, economic and technological processes to a new level, providing even better opportunities and quality of life for all of us. 5G is a real leap, an industrial revolution that transforms the manufacturing sector, health care, education, transport and almost every aspect of life", explained Boris Drilo, CTIO Hrvatski Telekom.
For this demonstration, a new Ericsson 5G radio station, a 5G active antenna system that includes MIMO technology (multiple receiving and transmitting antennas) was implemented, and a prototype of 5G user equipment was also used.
Ivan Barać, director of Sales and Marketing for HT Ericsson Nikola Tesla says: "We are very happy that shortly after the first demonstration of 5G, which was held in Ericsson Nikola Tesla at the end of March, our strategic partner HT today demonstrated the possibilities of the 5G technology in Pula. Namely, the project of modernizing the Hrvatski Telekom’s network started in Istria and will continue in the rest of Croatia. We are proud that Hrvatski Telekom has chosen us for a strategic partner and that through our joint engagement we successfully modernize their network, which means that the entire HT network will be completely ready for 5G by the time the regulator grants the concession.“
5G is a brand new network concept combining the benefits of fixed and mobile communications. Although it will be considerably faster than currently available networks, the 5G not only provides faster speed, but also its built-in network intelligence and interoperability capability with other technologies.
The 5G will also bring the revolution in sports, as demonstrated today. HT once again wanted to underline its great role in supporting Croatian football, just before the most important match of the Croatian national football team - the finals of the World Championships. Also, HT is the biggest sponsor of film festivals in Croatia, so this demonstration was held just before the opening of the 65th Pula Film Festival.