Wedoany.com Report-Jun 20, Hrvatski Telekom, in partnership with Markoja, the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, and the airports of Zagreb, Zadar, and Pula, has launched the NextGen 5G Airports project. This initiative, submitted for EU co-financing under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program in October 2024, aims to deploy private 5G networks at the three Croatian airports. With a total investment of €5.6 million, the project seeks to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and passenger experience through advanced connectivity.

Private 5G networks offer airports full control over infrastructure, enabling tailored solutions for digitalization, security, and reliability. Zagreb Airport, handling over 4.3 million passengers annually, will use drones with UHD cameras and AI analytics to inspect its 14 km of fencing and 188,684.95 m² runway, improving real-time issue detection. Pula Airport, with 8,200 operations in 2024, will install 50 UHD cameras and RCR sensors along its 10,488 m of fencing, connected to AI for monitoring intrusions or damage. Zadar Airport, with 1.5 million passengers and 7,879 operations, will equip staff with AI-powered industrial tablets for efficient runway and fencing inspections, automating data reporting.

A panel discussion, moderated by Marijana Bačić of Hrvatski Telekom, included Boris Markoja, CEO of Markoja; Matija Bračić, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences; Miran Gosta, Director of HAKOM; and Marin Tica, Head of IT at Zagreb Airport. They emphasized the role of private 5G in unifying communication systems, reducing device complexity, and supporting AI, machine learning, and AR/VR for predictive maintenance and safety.