Ivan Uremović
Episode · #156
TEHNOBIZ Ivan Uremović
Guest Ivan UremovićHosted by Dražen TomićMay 3, 2026
Ivan Uremović
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
The conversation with Ivan Uremović, Director of Mobile Network Modernization at Hrvatski Telekom, offers a rare look inside a multi-year, billion-kuna infrastructure project. He details the strategic decisions and operational challenges behind upgrading Croatia's largest mobile network, a massive undertaking that involved over 600 people and touched every corner of the country. Uremović explains how a seemingly endless demand for data drives constant investment, and why staying ahead means not just faster speeds, but a complete overhaul of everything from power systems to remote island battery backups. Readers will walk away with a deeper understanding of the hidden complexity behind reliable connectivity and the critical role of proactive investment in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Hrvatski Telekom recognized in 2017 that its current hardware couldn't sustain premium service and that 5G's arrival necessitated a comprehensive modernization. The decision to upgrade a national network isn't just about future technologies; it's a proactive move to maintain current service quality and consistency across all users, urban and rural alike.
02
The modernization involved over 2,200 transmitters, an investment exceeding a billion kuna, and 600 people (150 from HT, Ericsson Nikola Tesla, and regional contractors), all executed in 20 months. The true scale of national infrastructure modernization isn't just measured in capital; it's in the immense coordination of internal teams, external partners, and regional contractors required to rebuild physical infrastructure across thousands of sites.
03
The project included complete renewal of radio equipment, site reconstruction, improved power systems, infrastructure adaptation, and battery backups (4-5 hours standard, 12 hours on islands), plus fiber connectivity to every transmitter. A network modernization isn't merely an equipment swap; it's a holistic rebuild of the physical and power infrastructure, down to ensuring resilience against power outages and future-proofing transport capacity with fiber.
04
In 2019, HT transferred three times more data than in 2017, leading to a 75% improvement in user perception of the network, with average download speeds increasing from 40 Mbps to 70 Mbps. Infrastructure investment is a constant race against demand; simply accommodating exponential traffic growth isn't enough – the true measure of success is improving performance and user experience while handling that surge.
05
The modernization expanded LTE coverage to every part of Croatia, enhanced voice quality with Voice over LTE, and enabled new functionalities like Narrow Band IoT. Comprehensive network upgrades extend far beyond just increasing data speeds; they are foundational for expanding geographical reach, enhancing core services like voice, and enabling new industry applications such as IoT.
06
HT introduced a hybrid solution, combining DSL and LTE, to provide over 110,000 fixed-line users with speeds above 30 Mbps in areas where fiber isn't commercially available, significantly faster than the sub-10 Mbps on old copper. Mobile network modernization can directly improve fixed-line services; it allows operators to bridge the digital divide and offer high-speed internet in underserved areas through clever hybrid solutions, extending value beyond mobile users.
07
The initial application of 5G in Croatia will likely be fixed wireless access (FWA) in areas where commercial fiber rollout is not viable, rather than immediate widespread mobile device adoption. The immediate commercial value of a new generation mobile technology like 5G isn't always in consumer devices; often, its first and most impactful role is to solve existing infrastructure gaps, such as providing high-speed fixed internet where traditional fiber is uneconomical.