The project will cost 750 million kuna.
The construction of the national fiber-optic intercity network, a project worth 750 million kuna which will be almost entirely funded by the European Union, will not start in 2018, reports Poslovni.hr on February 2, 2018.
In June, the European Commission gave Croatia the green light for the implementation of the project, known as the National Aggregation Infrastructure Development Program (NP-BBI), but since then nothing much has happened. The Odašiljači i Veze (OiV) public company will implement the programme, but they do not expect to work on the project this year.
Maja Leljak Jurman from the OiV company says that the implementation of the NP-BBI project will start after the government adopts the appropriate decision. “Given that the programme has not yet been adopted by the government, it is difficult to say when we will begin with the development, but most likely not in 2018,” says Leljak Jurman.
Before the start of the works, she explains, it is necessary to conclude a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure to implement the NP-BBI and obtain approval from the European Commission for the project. Furthermore, it is necessary to conclude a grant agreement with the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, draw up project documentation for infrastructure and obtain necessary permits.
However, it is expected that the government will eventually support the program. In the meantime, preparations are underway. The Ministry of Infrastructure will lead the project, while the OiV public company will be operationally and technically in charge. In June 2017, the European Commission approved the final version of the NP-BBI programme, confirming that it is in line with EU state aid rules. The Union thus agreed to grant Croatia 85 percent of the 101.4 million euro investment in the national fiber-optic network. Croatia will be able to withdraw the funds from the European Regional Development Fund until the end of 2023.
Even without this project, OiV expects a successful business year. They emphasize that the company will focus on internal reorganization primarily because they want to increase productivity and optimize business operations through the introduction of new technologies. Asked about business goals for 2018, they say that the company will this year continue to work on the digital radio initiative.
“We launched test broadcasting on the DAB+ platform last year, and we have continued with the CRONECT project, which is of the utmost importance for all local and communal services in Croatia,” says Leljak Jurman. She adds that the project will intensify this year. Also, they expect that, after Nova TV started using their hybrid television services last years, other TV companies will follow. OiV will also work on the Intelligent Transport Systems project and STRIBOR project.
Translated from Poslovni.hr
