Hrvatski Telekom (HT) has finalized its phased retirement of 3G services across Croatia, completing a process that spanned two years. The company stated that the project involved multiple stages, including an extensive planning phase.
HT, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, initiated the network shutdown in March, starting with Osijek and nearby areas. The decommissioning continued in Zagreb in July, followed by the gradual phase-out in Dubrovnik, Makarska, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Šibenik, and Zadar later in the year. The final stage of the nationwide 3G switch-off was completed last month.
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Boris Drilo, Member of the Board and Chief Technical and Information Technology Officer (CTIO) at Hrvatski Telekom, stated, “We have officially retired 3G technology, which is another milestone in the evolution of Hrvatski Telekom. This significant step marks the end of one era and the transition to faster networks powered by 4G and 5G. This challenging project means better connectivity, improved user experiences, and energy-efficient solutions, which align with our commitment to innovation and sustainability.”
HT highlighted the environmental benefits of shutting down its legacy network, stating that 4G is five times more energy efficient than 3G, while 5G offers an even greater efficiency improvement of up to 15 times.
The global telecom industry continues to phase out 3G networks, with operators across various countries following suit. In neighboring Latvia, Tele2 recently announced plans to discontinue its 3G services next month, shortly after its Estonian subsidiary revealed a similar strategy.
