Croatia dropped from 38th to 39th in GCI 2019.

Croatia’s performance in 2019 is in line with the global average. There has been improvement in smartphone use and mobile broadband subscriptions, so Croatia achieved maximum scores in these categories. However, user experience declined somewhat in relation to customer services, download speeds, and mobile broadband affordability. Mobile broadband access in Croatia continues to be one of the fastest growing markets. Telecom operators have started migrating towards the LTE standard and are in the process of upgrading to fiber optic infrastructure. The number of local companies that are using websites for advertising and online ecommerce sales is rapidly increasing.

Croatia’s greatest challenge with digitalization remains its low performance in connectivity and coverage. To reap the full benefits of digital transformation, Croatia needs to improve its broadband infrastructure. According to GCI indicators, the country has limited investment in high tech enablers such as cloud computing and IoT. More initiatives and action should be taken to grow the supply of these services.