Telemach Builds Network for Traffic Growth

The quality of a mobile network today is no longer proven by advertising claims or laboratory measurements, but by the user experience in everyday traffic. That is precisely why awards an operator wins based on millions of real tests carry particular weight in a highly competitive market, Danijela Bistrički Morović, Member of the Management Board and Chief Technology Officer of Telemach Croatia, tells ICTbusiness Media – ICTbusiness.info.

Telemach returned from this year’s Mobile World Congress with new international confirmations of its mobile network quality, including Ookla awards for the best and fastest mobile network in Croatia. But the focus of the conversation is not only on the awards, but also on the infrastructure behind them. It is about multi-year investments in capacity, modernization, and network optimization, but also about users’ increasingly strong reliance on 5G and fiber.

As traffic grows strongly, operators can no longer build networks only for today’s needs, but for the loads that are still to come. In that context, Telemach links network development with service quality, energy efficiency, automation, and the broader process of digital transformation.

Telemach has received yet another recognition for the quality of its mobile network at this year’s MWC 2026 in Barcelona. How important is that for you, and what does it specifically mean for your users?

The global authority for measuring telecommunications network performance, Ookla, awarded us two awards – for the best and the fastest mobile network in Croatia. Such recognition means a great deal to us because it is based on real user experience and more than 5 million measurements in real-world conditions.

The analysis of our mobile networks was conducted over the last six months of 2025, and the results are based on a large number of tests conducted by users themselves. The award for the best mobile network takes into account overall performance, such as speed, latency, and the quality of web browsing and video content, while the award for the fastest mobile network measures network throughput and responsiveness, that is, download and upload speeds in combination with latency.

In other words, this is not a laboratory test, but everyday use of the mobile network – and here Telemach is number one. It is also confirmation that multi-year investments in modernization, capacity expansion, and network optimization have been recognized exactly where it matters most – by users. We are especially pleased that this recognition comes at a time when the market is highly competitive, and user expectations are high for speed, stability, and availability.

This is not the only recognition we have received for the quality of our network. In addition to Ookla’s award, we also won an Opensignal award for consistent mobile network quality at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, placing us among the ten best mobile networks in the world. This continues the multi-year stream of global recognitions arriving at our address. But perhaps the most important indicator is that for three years in a row, we have been the operator to which the highest number of mobile users have switched.

High user expectations also mean greater investment in infrastructure. How much has it progressed at Telemach since entering the market?

Since the end of 2019, traffic on our network has grown more than threefold, while we have increased network capacity by as much as sixfold to keep pace with that growth. Today, we cover more than 99% of Croatia’s population, laying the groundwork for the digitalization of the entire country.

When it comes to 5G, coverage on the 700 MHz frequency has reached almost 100 percent of the population, while 5G in the C-band covers around 65 percent, bringing very high speeds and capacities where they are needed most.

The growth of 5G traffic is also interesting. In 2025, 5G accounted for around one-third of total traffic, while in December that share reached 40 percent. This clearly shows that users adopt technology very quickly when it brings them real value.

Why do investments in 5G and fiber remain an absolute priority?

Because the network today is the foundation of the digital society. In recent years, we have seen strong traffic growth across video content, cloud services, and business applications.

Our focus was not only on expanding coverage, but on simultaneously building network capacity and resilience. The goal is for users not to feel congestion, even during peak load.

We therefore view investments in 5G and fiber as a long-term investment – not only in technology, but also in the competitiveness of the economy and quality of life.

We entered the fixed services market later, but we brought the most advanced technology and the fastest fiber internet to Croatia. It is currently available to more than 330,000 households at a very competitive price-to-quality ratio.

How important are automation and energy efficiency in network development?

As networks grow, it is equally important to consider sustainability. By introducing the latest functionalities in the radio network, we are increasing energy efficiency and significantly reducing electricity consumption.

It is also important to emphasize that all the energy we use is sourced from renewable sources, meaning that growth in network capacity and quality does not come at a higher carbon footprint.

Automation and Artificial Intelligence are already being used, and looking ahead, they will play an increasingly important role in network management – from optimization and traffic management to faster identification and resolution of potential problems, often even before users notice them at all.

How are user habits changing, and what does that mean for future network development?

Today, the network is no longer just about speed; it has become a platform for digital life and business. There are more and more applications that are sensitive to latency, and users expect a flawless experience, without interruptions and slowdowns.

The fact that 5G already accounts for more than one-third of total traffic shows that we are in the midst of an accelerating digital transformation.

That is why, in 2026, the focus will be on further strengthening capacity, optimizing, and integrating 5G, fiber, and advanced digital solutions, so that we can maintain a high level of quality and respond to the increasingly demanding needs of the market.