United Group, the leading provider of telecommunications services and media in Southeast Europe, said it would spend up to EUR 130 million on Telemach Hrvatska’s mobile network over the next five years, with a focus on expanding its network coverage, improving overall quality of its mobile service, and creating a superfast 5G mobile network starting from 2021.

Best of future mobile network quality

In addition to investments in Telemach Hrvatska’s mobile network, United Group will also invest up to EUR 100 million in the construction of a state-of-the-art fibre optic network able to deliver ultrafast broadband at speeds of up to 10 gigabits to business and residential subscribers.

“With this investment Telemach Hrvatska will soon provide the best of future mobile network quality and new mobile services that will come together with the best fixed network available in Croatia,” said Viktor Pavlinić, CEO of Telemach Hrvatska.

“For our existing and future customers, this will translate into a full range of the most advanced services and products and the best quality and experience,” he added.

United Group acquired Telemach Hrvatska in May 2019. It was the first transaction the business made after it was acquired by BC Partners in March that year, in what was one of the largest ever transactions in Southeastern Europe.

Telemach Hrvatska will continue to offer products and services under the brand Tele2 until the company introduces a new visual identity in the first half of 2021.

Committed to the Croatian market

“Our investment demonstrates United Group’s commitment to the Croatian market and to further strengthening our leadership position in the region,” said Victoriya Boklag, CEO of United Group.

“Operating in both the telecom and media sectors, as well as in e-commerce, our platform combines the leading operators and best content producers in Southeast Europe,” she added.

United Group said these latest investments – which will make it one of the largest foreign investors in Croatia – would help Telemach Hrvatska build on an already strong competitive position, attracting new users with network quality, an appealing offer and superior customer support.

By the end of 2020, United Group will have approximately 10 million users and 11 thousand employees across seven countries. It currently employs nearly 950 people in Croatia and is prepared for further expansion.

United Group’s companies have established a reputation for providing the highest quality content, products and services in their markets. The group’s Bulgarian operator Vivacom won Ookla’s Q1-Q2 2020 prize for Europe’s fastest mobile network and its Slovenian operator Telemach Slovenia won Umlaut’s the Best in Test certificate for the best mobile and internet network both in 2019 and 2020.

About United Group

Headquartered in Amsterdam, United Group is the leading telecommunications and media operator in Southeast Europe. Through significant investments in digital infrastructure, content and technology, it provides leading services to customers across the region. Over 20 years of operation, United Group has acquired and successfully integrated more than 100 companies. Every year, it allocates significant funds for the development of digital infrastructure, original media content and technology. Within the United Group, SBB, Telemach, Vivacom, United Cloud, Total TV, Net TV plus, United Media with television channels Nova, N1, Nova S, Nova BH, Nova M, Doma, Sport Klub, Fight Ch, Mini, Grand, Pikaboo, Vavoom, Cinemania, Hunting and Fishing, IDJ, Brainz, portal nova.rs, marketing agencies Cas Media and Direct Media and e-commerce business Shoppster. It has the widest network coverage in the region and offers users the most attractive selection of TV content from around the world. United Group has been owned by BC Partners, one of the largest global investment companies in the world, since March 2019 and operates in seven countries. For more information, visit https://united.group/