Internet speed: 8.2 Mbps downlink (average), 40 Mbps downlink (peak)

Population: 4.22 million (2015)

Internet Users: 69.8%, or 2.94 million people

Major ISPs: Hrvatiski Telekom, Iskon Internet, Amis Telekom, Magic Telekom

Main types of connection: Dial-up, Cable, ADSL, FTTH, Satellite Internet

Market leader (broadband): Hrvatiski Telekom

Average subscription cost: $20 (Numbeo.com – May 2017)

Colocation datacenters: 5 – Zagreb (Datacentermap.com – 2015 )

Internet Censorship: Lenient

According to Akamai’s Q4 2016 rankings, Croatia has an average Internet connection speed of 8.2 Mpbs and an average peak connection speed of 40 Mbps.

According to a 2015 estimate, the current population of Croatia is 4.22 million. Of these, 69.8% were connected to the Internet in the same year, or 2.94 million people.

The Croatian Internet market is divided between many ISPs. Major names include Hrvatiski Telekom, Iskon Internet, Amis Telekom, Magic Telekom, H1 Telekom, etc.

According to reportingproject.net, the “undisputed” leader among Croatian Internet service providers is Hrvatiski Telekom, which is believed to own more than 75% of the broadband market. Other smaller operators either lease on HT’s network, or are owned by them altogether.

The Internet in Croatia is primarily defined by the existence of dial-up connections, in rural areas, and broadband connections, in urban areas.

According to latest stats published by Numbeo.com, a typical subscription to the Internet starts at approximately $20 per month.

Quality-wise, most popular offers in this price range are in the speed range of 2 to 10 Mbps, which is significiantly slower than the EU average. Take-up of high-speed offers (30 Mbps and above) only reaches 1.1%, which is around 25% lower than the EU average, according to stats published by the European Commission in 2015.

Dial-up access in Croatia

Dial-up connections are still very popular in Croatia, especially in the countryside, due to the high penetration rate for fixed line telephones throughout the country. A few ISPs that provide dial-up access in Croatia are:

– T-com Croatia
– Iskon Internet
– VIPnet
– Optima Telekom

Three different payment methods are available for this type of  connection:

– Pay as you go, paying only the minutes that you were connected, at the rate of a normal voice call (this is good for occasional users)
– Partial flat rate, for usage of only a set amount of hours or at set times
– Full flat rate, for a connection any time, for as long as you want (this is better for regular users)

Broadband access in Croatia

Geographically speaking, Croatia is at a disadvantage, it having a great part of its territory in the Dinaric Alps and a significant number of habited islands. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to lay down a comprehensive broadband infrastructure that can be accessed by everyone equally.

Broadband access in Croatia can be divided into: ADSL, Cable, FTTH, WiMax, and Satellite Internet. Of these, ADSL and Cable are the most widespread types of connection.

Currently, Hrvatiski Telekom is said to own most of the broadband market in Croatia. While no specific ownership percentages have been released to the public by The Croatian Surveying and Mapping Authority, other sources suggest that HT owns more than 70% of the coaxial and fiber optic network of the country.

ADSL access in Croatia

In Croatia, ADSL access was introduced in 2000 by T-Com, the current broadband market leader. At present, ADSL is the most common type of connection in Croatia. ISPs that offer this type of connection are:

– T-com
– Iskon Internet
– Amis Telekom
– Optima Telekom
– Transintercom

Generally, this type of connection is provided only with triple play packages. In layman’s terms, triple play means that, if you want an Internet subscription, you’ll also need to opt for a fixed telephone subscription and a TV subscription. Triple play packages usually start at 100 Kuna per month, or approximately $15, but this price varies depending on the provider you ultimately choose.

Cable Internet in Croatia

There is only one provider that currently offers cable Internet in Croatia, namely B.net Hrvatska. Speeds range from 5 Mbps to 100 Mbps. Better speeds do exist, but only in select regions where the infrastructure is more developed.

Satellite Internet in Croatia

Satellite Internet access in Croatia is not very popular due to its being economically unviable and not being on a par with other faster and more reliable connections, such as ADSL or Cable. Additionally, all prerequisite equipment is not paid for by the providers, which only contributes to the ever-increasing lack of interest in this particular type of service. Depending on the package that you opt for, prices can go up to as much as $30 per month; speeds range anywhere from 1 Mbps to 50 Mbps.

Internet censorship in Croatia

The constitution and law generally provide for freedom of speech and the press. Hate speech committed over the Internet is punishable by six months’ to three years’ imprisonment and libel is a criminal offense in Croatia. There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or reports the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms. With regard to the copyright protection, the current legislation is rather ambiguous and doesn’t offer comprehensive protection, especially on the Internet. As such, a few prosperous offshore web hosting businesses are established in Croatia.

According to latest data published by datacentermap.com, there are 5 major colocation datacenters currently established in Croatia, all concentrated in the capital city of Zagreb. The 5 datacenters are:

– PCK-Jastrebarsko
– VIP Datacenter
– Megatrend Datacenter
– Croatian Web Hosting
– Datacenter Markoja

The web hosting industry in Croatia is generally well developed and experiences fast paced advancement, but the companies we reviewed only cater to a local clientele due to the lack of support for international languages such as English or French.

Typically, customers can opt for all core hosting services, such as Shared, VPS or Dedicated Hosting. Prices for each service start at $5, $15 and $30 per month respectively; however, Shared Hosting plans are rarely offered on a monthly basis – quarterly or yearly subscriptions are the norm.