This is a project with nearly €1 million (EUR 958.125) in co-funding by the European Commission, as part of the second round of CEF2 Digital calls for the introduction of a secure, protected, and sustainable 5G network in EU countries.

Representatives of Ploče Port Authority, the company Markoja, the Port of Ploče, the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), and the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) all took part in the conference.

The aim of the project is to enhance the level and quality of public services provided by Ploče Port Authority via setting up and deploying a private standalone 5G network in the area of the Ploče seaport, enabling high-end connectivity as well as large data processing and transfer, which are key to precise and fast analytics. Within the project framework, a network infrastructure for 5G deployment will be installed in the Port of Ploče area for the purpose of three innovative data-intensive use cases: Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) implementation, cargo manipulation surveillance and monitoring, and incident prevention.

“We want to strategically develop the port of Ploče by investing in infrastructure, in order to maximize the level of competitiveness in changing geopolitical circumstances. Nowadays, technology is an irreplaceable component of that, and 5G, due to its technical characteristics, represents a major step forward and a turning point in processes and operations”, said Tomislav Batur, executive director of Ploče Port Authority, which covers management, construction and use of the Port of Ploče.

Boris Markoja, Director and founder of the company Markoja said:

The installation and deployment of a private 5G SA network as well as the implementation of innovative methods of data collection, processing, and transfer will ultimately enable the optimization of traffic and logistics within the port area, thus increasing incident prevention and overall security of all stakeholders – in line with the ESG approach to business. As the owner of the 5G spectrum at the regional level in nine counties of the Republic of Croatia, Markoja recognized the value of this project and plans to continue actively participating in the creation of a private 5G network market for a variety of industry verticals and smart communities. 

Hrvoje Livaja, President of the Management Board at Port of Ploče, the largest Croatian port, which will be the beneficiary of this project, said that “the implementation of 5G technology will enable Port of Ploče to run business processes faster and with less impact on the environment. In addition, we will operate more safely because the process automation and sensors will provide better incident prevention. I am proud that the Port of Ploče will be the first Croatian smart port connected by 5G technology.”

This is one of only two projects co-financed in Croatia, out of the total of 42 approved projects from 18 Member States in which 260 million euros will be invested. Moreover, this is the only project from Croatia to be approved by the European Commission under the “5G for Smart Communities” (5GSC) fund.

The implementation of the project started on January 1, 2024 and is expected to last for 30 months.