United Group is embarking on the construction of the largest optical network in Southeast Europe called “United Fiber”, which will span across four markets in the EU – Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia. Telemach Hrvatska telecom, owned by United Group, announced that they will be investing 450 million euros in this project. The “United Fiber” network consists of 60 thousand kilometers of core and metro infrastructure, reaching 3.6 million households in the four markets and connecting Europe with the Middle East and Asia to meet the high demand for transit in key markets.
The total investment in “United Fiber” is set at 450 million euros for the period 2024-2028. After successfully establishing United Fiber in Greece in 2021, the Group continued to consolidate the fixed line infrastructure in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia. United Group Vice President for Technology, Žjko Batistić, highlighted the group’s expertise in building and implementing modern fixed infrastructure. He mentioned the significant progress made in Serbia over the past two decades and emphasized the vision to become the preferred brand for users, business clients, and the public sector to contribute to society’s digitalization.
The Group is currently working on implementing a plan to deliver 475,000 new optical connectors for households in 2024, with similar projections for the following years. The goal is to enhance accessibility for users and strengthen the Group’s presence in the market. The establishment of “United Fiber” in Greece was crucial in the development of the Group’s infrastructure strategy, achieving a penetration rate of 20 percent on their own optical network. In Bulgaria, the Group has the largest optical network in the country, reaching 50 percent of households with plans to expand to 67 percent by 2028.
Similarly, in Croatia and Slovenia, the Group is making significant strides in expanding their optical network coverage. The vision of the Group is to create strong synergies through investment in “United Fiber” and further expand their activities and services. They express gratitude to their professional teams and aim to provide exceptional services to their users. The Group’s commitment to innovation and progress is evident in their efforts to enhance connectivity and digitalization in the region.