Internet in Croatia

The Internet in Croatia became a reality in November 1992 when the first international connection linking CARNet in Zagreb to the Internet in Austria at 64 kbit/s was operational. By 2012 an estimated 63% of the Croatian population was using the Internet from home, work, and school as well as from their mobile phones.

Facts and figures

Technologies and services

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

In Croatia ADSL was introduced in 2000 by the German owned operator T-Com, formerly HT (Hrvatski telekom, meaning Croatian telecom). DSL is the most common form of broadband. Flat-rate based plans are the most commonly used in conjunction with DSL. There are companies offering ADSL2+ Internet Access and TriplePlay. Local loops were expected to be unbundled after September 2006. As of 2010, this has only partially been done. ADSL and fixed line phones use the same cable plant in most parts of the country, in some locations the line quality is not good enough to support a stable ADSL link, and in some locations there is no ADSL supporting telephone switch installed.

The list of DSL providers in Croatia is:

WiMax

The oldest commercial WiMax provider is: Novi net d.o.o.

WIMAX concessions were also given to Optima Telekom, WIMAX Telecom and Odašiljači i veze d.d. (OiV). However, none of them has to the present day (as of January 2010) realized the full potential of their concession, due to the high cost of the infrastructure which needs to be built. Also, the providers claim that there are not yet enough potential interested users for this technology.

Fiber to the Home (FTTH)

The existing Fiber to the Home provider, Metronet telekomunikacije d.d. T-Com, is performing a trial that is expected to take a few years time, to see the potential for nationwide coverage using FTTH technology. In mid-2009 a 28 floor building in Rijeka was equipped with FTTH providing triple play as a test site. Supposedly in three further cities similar test are being run.[8]

Cable Internet

Cable Internet is available, but it is not as widespread as ADSL. There is one Cable Internet provider in Croatia, B.net Hrvatska d.o.o., also with a TriplePlay offer.

Mobile broadband

Mobile broadband Internet access is offered by the three national concession GSM operators:

There are both pre-paid and post-paid plans. All three providers cooperate with CARNet to provide a discount for users in the academic and education community - ordered by seniority they are named Mobile CARNet/VipmeCARNet (VIPnet), Tele2CARNet (Tele2 Croatia), Stick2CARNet (T-Mobile HR).

It is not mandatory to register any personal data upon purchasing a prepaid plan (together with the USB based mobile modem stick), so any foreign citizen may also get it for in-land use.

GSM coverage is very good, while EDGE and UMTS coverage is rather sparse, as of January 2010 and the usage for higher speeds is only possible on certain, mainly urban locations and in the Adriatic Sea area.

National research and education network

CARNet is the national research and education network and a significant Internet provider for numerous end-users in the academic and educational community in Croatia.

Dial-up Internet

The dial-up Internet penetration in Croatia is still high, mainly in rural areas. This is due to the high penetration rate for fixed line telephones throughout country. There are several providers which also offer this rather old connection method:

Wireless LAN hotspots

Some Wireless LAN (WLAN) hotspots exist in Internet cafés and some cities.

There are also many volunteer-driven WLAN local-city networks, for example:

They usually serve a small number of local users. VIPnet and Iskon Internet operate some hotspots commercially.

Satellite Internet

In the past, there were a few resellers of one-way satellite Internet services, which mostly ceased to exist with the arrival of increased ADSL coverage and reduced interest in the service. Currently (as of 2010), there is at least one reseller of a two-way satellite Internet service. However, this method of Internet access is not economically viable, except for a very few very remote areas. The equipment needed is not subsidized, unlike ADSL and FTTH trial equipment.

When Croatia joined the European Union in the year 2013, it became an integral part of the agenda to close the digital divide. According to official data, satellite Internet coverage at the end of 2013 was 94%.

Internet censorship and surveillance

There is no OpenNet Initiative country profile for Croatia, but it is shown as little or no evidence of Internet filtering in all areas (political, social, conflict/security, and Internet tools) on the ONI global Internet filtering maps.[9]

The constitution and law generally provide for freedom of speech and the press; however, growing economic pressures lead journalists to practice self-censorship. Hate speech committed over the Internet is punishable by six months' to three years' imprisonment and libel is a criminal offense. There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or reports the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms. In general individuals and groups engage in the peaceful expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail. Internet access is widely available and used by citizens throughout the country.[10]

List of Internet service Providers in Croatia

Below is a list of all ISPs in Croatia, including various connection speed plans of a triple-play package.

BNet

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Cap D/S capped U/S capped Technology
Basic 20 Mbit/s 1.25 Mbit/s 640GB 4 Mbit/s 448 kbit/s DOCSIS 2.0
30 Mbit/s 30 Mbit/s 1.5 Mbit/s 800GB 5 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s DOCSIS 2.0
60 Mbit/s 60 Mbit/s 5 Mbit/s 960GB 6 Mbit/s 640 kbit/s DOCSIS 3.0
120 Mbit/s 120 Mbit/s 6 Mbit/s 960GB 10 Mbit/s 640 kbit/s DOCSIS 3.0

T-Com (Hrvatski Telekom)

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
Basic DSL 4 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s ADSL2+
Turbo 10 10 Mbit/s 640 kbit/s ADSL2+
Turbo 20 20 Mbit/s 2 Mbit/s ADSL2+
Turbo 30 30 Mbit/s 5 Mbit/s VDSL2
Turbo+ 40 40 Mbit/s 6 Mbit/s VDSL2
Turbo+ 50 50 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s VDSL2
Basic Fiber 50 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s FTTB
Turbo 100 100 Mbit/s 20 Mbit/s FTTB
Turbo 200 200 Mbit/s 100 Mbit/s FTTB

Amis

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
Basic DSL 10 Mbit/s 768 kbit/s ADSL2+
16 Mbit/s 16 Mbit/s 768 kbit/s ADSL2+
24 Mbit/s 24 Mbit/s 1 Mbit/s ADSL2+
25 Mbit/s 25 Mbit/s 5 Mbit/s VDSL2
40 Mbit/s 40 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s VDSL2
60 Mbit/s 60 Mbit/s 20 Mbit/s VDSL2
Basic Fiber 50 Mbit/s 50 Mbit/s FTTH
100 Mbit/s 100 Mbit/s 100 Mbit/s FTTH

VIPNet

Internet Plan Down Technology
Internet S 4 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s ADSL2+
Internet M 50 Mbit/s 7.5 Mbit/s DOCSIS 3.0
Internet L (Cable) 120 Mbit/s 15 Mbit/s DOCSIS 3.0
Internet L (Fiber) 500 Mbit/s 120 Mbit/s FTTH

H1 Telekom

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
surfNET 5 5 Mbit/s ? ADSL2+
surfNET 10 10 Mbit/s ? ADSL2+
turboNET 20 20 Mbit/s 2 Mbit/s VDSL2
turboNET 50 50 Mbit/s 15 Mbit/s VDSL2

Iskon

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
Trio 5/512 5 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s ADSL2+
Trio 10/512 10 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s ADSL2+
Trio 20/5 20 Mbit/s 5 Mbit/s VDSL2
Trio 30/5 30 Mbit/s 5 Mbit/s VDSL2
Trio 50/10 50 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s VDSL2

Optima

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
O3 4 Mbit/s 4 Mbit/s ? ADSL2+
O3 10 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s ? ADSL2+
O3 VDSL 20 Mbit/s 20 Mbit/s 1 Mbit/s VDSL2
O3 VDSL 30 Mbit/s 30 Mbit/s 5 Mbit/s VDSL2
O3 VDSL 40 Mbit/s 40 Mbit/s 6 Mbit/s VDSL2

BTNet

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
3 play Classic 4 Mbit/s 384 kbit/s ADSL2+
3 play 8 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s ADSL2+
3 play Optic 10/10 10 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s FTTH
3 play Optic 24/24 24 Mbit/s 24 Mbit/s FTTH

Novi-Net telekom

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
Internet 10 Mbit+ 10 Mbit/s 1 Mbit/s WiMax
Internet 20 Mbit+ 20 Mbit/s 2 Mbit/s WiMax

Optika-Kabel TV

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
24 Mbit/s 24 Mbit/s 6 Mbit/s FTTH/B
30 Mbit/s 30 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s FTTH/B

Magic-NET

Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
FLAT 1 to 2 Mbit/s 2 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s DOCSIS 2.0
FLAT 2 to 4 Mbit/s 4 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s DOCSIS 2.0
FLAT 3 to 6 Mbit/s 6 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s DOCSIS 2.0
FLAT 4 to 8 Mbit/s 8 Mbit/s 512 kbit/s DOCSIS 2.0
Airnet S 2 Mbit/s 256 kbit/s Wireless
Airnet M 4 Mbit/s 256 kbit/s Wireless
DUO 20 20 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s FTTx
DUO 50 50 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s FTTx
Internet Plan Downstream Upstream Technology
Metro CARnet Basic 2 Mbit/s 384 kbit/s ADSL2+

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Communications: Croatia", World Factbook, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 28 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 Calculated using penetration rate and population data from "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012", Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013
  3. ↑ "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012", International Telecommunications Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013
  4. ↑ "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Select Formats, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.
  7. ↑ Population, The World Factbook, United States Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "T-HT in 2009: To facilitate access for one million broadband customers" (Press release). 22 April 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Global Internet Filtering Maps", OpenNet Initiative. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "2010 Human rights Report: Croatia", Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 8 April 2011.

External links

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