Project 5G-ADRIA: Connecting Slovenia and Croatia for a Digital and Secure Future

The 5G-ADRIA project represents a unique initiative that connects Slovenia and Croatia with the goal of developing advanced 5G infrastructure along a key Mediterranean road corridor.
 
ZAGREB, June 14, 2024 - At a special event held on June 13 in Otočac, Slovenia, prominent experts, including Milan Berlič (Telemach Slovenia), Danijela Bistrički Morović (Telemach Croatia), Jaka Gorišek (DARS), Tomi Mlinar (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, UL), and Nenad Šlibar (OIV), presented a study that includes research results and future steps related to the 5G-ADRIA Project.
 
The study is designed as a foundation for the development of future networks and services that will improve traffic flow, road safety, vehicle communication, and reduce traffic jams and accidents. The project's focus is on connecting the North Adriatic ports of Koper and Rijeka, with the corridor stretching from Koper through Ljubljana to the Bregana border crossing and continuing through Croatia to Zagreb and Rijeka. In Slovenia, the corridor covers 207 km of motorway, while in Croatia it covers 171 km.
 
One of the key goals of the study is to analyse the possibilities of introducing connected and automated mobility (CAM) with an emphasis on safety, traffic flow, and improved vehicle communication. Implementation requires denser 5G network coverage, high data transmission capacity, low latency, and high service reliability. This lays the foundation for high-capacity networks that will enable advanced applications for autonomous vehicles. Additionally, aspects of e-health, mobility, transport, smart cities, and sustainable development were considered, with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions and creating a cleaner environment.
 
The project is divided into three scenarios. The first scenario involves using the 5G network to provide information about traffic and road conditions. The second scenario pertains to better connectivity and quicker response in case of critical events such as traffic accidents. The third scenario, expected in five years, envisions autonomous vehicles communicating with each other and with infrastructure, requiring millisecond latency.
 
Financial investments are crucial for the realization of the project, as confirmed by all involved experts. Significant funds are needed, and support from the European Union for co-financing is expected. A complex legislative framework also poses a challenge that needs to be overcome for the successful implementation of the project. The study is funded by EU funds from the CEF Digital programme.
 
Telemach, as an initiator of positive changes, plays a key role in achieving the goals set by the Digital Compass for the digital transformation of the EU by 2030. The President of the Management Board of Telemach Croatia, Adrian Ježina, emphasized that through innovative joint projects, we can build a digital and sustainable future. Tomislav Čizmić, President of the Management Board of Telemach Slovenia, stressed that the project not only brings technological advancement but also broader social and economic development to the region.