8.10.2025
Rijeka Gateway Project equipped with Hrvatski Telekom 5G network among Europe’s best digital connectivity projects
The Rijeka Gateway 5G Campus Network Project, through which Hrvatski Telekom equipped a new container terminal with a 5G network, has been recognized as one of the most innovative digital connectivity projects in Europe. At yesterday’s European Digital Connectivity Awards 2025 ceremony in Brussels, Rijeka Gateway ranked among the top three projects in the category “Excellence and Innovation in Implementing Gigabit-Ready Infrastructure,” earning prestigious international recognition.
“The fact that Rijeka Gateway has been declared strategically important for Croatia speaks volumes about its value and significance. I am extremely proud that our project has been recognized as one of the very best in the entire EU. With our comprehensive solution and 5G-based network infrastructure, we have contributed to Rijeka Gateway being rightfully considered the most advanced container terminal in the region, setting new standards in delivering business-critical communication, adaptable to the needs of each of our business customers,” said Marijana Bačić, Member of the Management Board and Chief Operating Officer Business at Hrvatski Telekom.
The European Digital Connectivity Awards recognize outstanding projects that deploy digital networks across Europe, showcasing infrastructure initiatives that enable high-speed, high-capacity connectivity.
“Rijeka Gateway is not only a technological, but also an organisational and business model that provides a clear example of modern industrial 5G implementation. Being in the company of such valuable projects confirms Croatia’s position as a leader in industrial digital transformation and demonstrates that Croatia can host cutting-edge technological solutions that compete at the European level,” said Robert Manenica, Principal in the Business Customer Service Development and Portfolio Management Sector at Hrvatski Telekom and Project Lead for Rijeka Gateway.
Hrvatski Telekom’s role in the project was to equip the new container terminal in Rijeka with a 5G network, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of 5G technology in the maritime industry. HT provides a comprehensive Managed Service for 5G communication on a turnkey basis. This innovative solution combines public 5G infrastructure with a private, security-enhanced slice optimized for industrial needs. It delivers all the benefits of a private network – high availability, low latency, and security – without requiring customers to maintain their own dedicated 5G infrastructure team. This is the first such deployment within the Deutsche Telekom Group, and likely one of the first in Europe.
The European Digital Connectivity Awards 2025 are presented in three categories, with three outstanding finalists selected in each. The award for the most innovative project in the category that included Rijeka Gateway went to the Hola 5G Oulu project from Finland, for implementing the first private 5G standalone network in a European hospital.
The awards are organized by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), which recognizes projects with a tangible impact on accelerating digital connectivity across Europe.