The government adopted two documents on broadband Internet access in Croatia

The government adopted two documents on broadband Internet access in Croatia as a condition for the absorption of EU funds in this sector.

The caretaker government on Wednesday approved the employment on a temporary basis of 88 people for the purpose of full implementation of the Schengen acquis along the Croatian border which will become the European Union's external border.

The employment of extra staff is necessary due to an increase in the volume of work to be performed along the Schengen border. Most of the staff are housekeepers, cleaners and cooks in the transit centres for foreigners, situated in Trilj, southern Croatia and in Tovarnik, eastern Croatia, as well as in border police stations, Deputy Interior Minister Davor Blazevic said at a government meeting.

The aim of the documents -- the strategy and the framework national programme for development of broadband Internet access -- is to ensure access to next-generation networks at a speed of at least 30 Mbit/s for all Croatian citizens and to ensure that at least 50% of households have Internet access at speeds not lower than 10 Mbit/s, Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butkovic said.

According to him, the strategy envisages investments in the amount of HRK 5.7 billion. Broken down by source of funding, HRK 1.5 billion should be secured from the European Regional Development Fund and an additional 1.5 billion kuna from the Croatian state budget, while the remainder would be ensured by private investors and from loans.

The National Framework Programme for the Development of Broadband Infrastructure in Areas Lacking Sufficient Commercial Interest for Investments has been endorsed by the European Commission. It envisages investments in the amount of EUR 252 million, and 117.2 million euros will be provided from the European Regional Development Fund and 134.8 million by borrowing from the European Investment Bank. Private investments can amount to up to 120 million euros.

(Text: Hina)

 

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