March the 17th, 2024 – Ploče Port is set to become the very first Croatian 5G port, and a conference held by the Markoja company and the Ploče Port Authority discussed what’s going to happen next.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the “Improving the public services of the Ploče Port Authority through the implementation of 5G connectivity” project is finally getting started. This project is being implemented by the Ploče Port Authority and a company called Markoja, and an introductory conference regarding the project that will enable Ploče Port to become the first smart 5G port in Croatia was recently organised.
This project is otherwise being co-financed by the European Commission (EC) with almost one million euros (958,125 EUR) as part of the second round of the CEF2 Digital call for the introduction of a secure, protected and sustainable 5G network in EU countries.
Representatives of the Ploče Port Authority, Markoja, Ploče Port d.d., the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER) and the European Executive Agency for Health and Digital Economy (HaDEA) all took part in the conference programme.
Ploče Port – the first Croatian 5G port
The goal of the project is to increase the level and quality of public services provided by the Ploče Port Authority by setting up a private 5G network in the area of the sea port of Ploče itself. This network will enabe superior connectivity and the processing of large amounts of data. It will also then share that data, which is essential for accurate and rapid analytics to be carried out.
As part of the project, the network infrastructure and related equipment will be installed for the introduction of a private and independent 5G network in the area of Ploče Port. Three innovative data use cases with the intensive use of data will then be implemented: the introduction of a real-time location system (RTLS), the monitoring and recording of cargo manipulation, and the prevention of incidents.
“We want to strategically develop Ploče Port by investing in its infrastructure, in order to maximise the level of competitiveness in these quickly changing geopolitical circumstances. In the modern day, technology is an irreplaceable component of this, and due to its technical characteristics, 5G represents a significant step forward and a turning point in processes and operations”, said Tomislav Batur, the director of Ploče Port.
Markoja – 5G will enable optimal logistical processes
Boris Markoja, the director and founder of Markoja said: “The installation and launch of a private 5G SA network, as well as the implementation of innovative methods of data collection, processing and transfer, will ultimately enable the optimisation of traffic and logistical processes in the port area. It will also increase the overall security of all stakeholders in the port. As the owner of the 5G spectrum in nine counties across Croatia, Markoja has duly recognised the value of this project and plans to continue actively participating in the creation of the private 5G network market for various industrial verticals and smart communities.”
faster business processes for Ploče Port
The President of the Management Board of Ploče Port said that “the implementation of 5G technology will enable Ploče Port to run all of its business processes more quickly and with less impact on the environment itself. In addition, we’ll operate more safely because, thanks to process automation and sensors, we’ll enable the better prevention of incidents. I’m proud that Ploče Port will be the first Croatian smart port connected by 5G technology.”
This is one of only two projects that are currently being co-financed in Croatia, out of a total of 42 approved projects from 18 EU member states, in which as much as 260 million euros will be invested. It is also the only project from Croatia approved by the European Commission as part of the “5G for Smart Communities” (5GSC) fund.
30 months
On the occasion of the start of the project “Improving the public services of the Port Authority of Ploče through the implementation of 5G connectivity”, carried out by the Port Authority of Ploče and the company Markoja, an introductory conference of the project was organized today in the hall of the Ploče House of Culture, which will enable the Port of Ploče to become the first smart 5G port in Croatia. It is a project co-financed by the European Commission with almost one million euros (958,125 EUR) as part of the second round of the CEF2 Digital call for the introduction of a secure, protected and sustainable 5G network in the countries of the European Union. The works are expected to last for 30 months in total.
