Croatian Telecom has published the Sustainability Report for 2023, emphasizing its long-standing commitment to sustainable business practices.

This document details programs, activities, and progress in the areas of sustainable development, social responsibility, and corporate governance.

In the past year, HT confirmed its position as a technological leader and the largest private investor in digitalization in Croatia. A total of 361.4 million euros were invested in 2023, which is a record figure in the company's history and represents an increase of 50.7 percent compared to the previous year.

These investments are the largest in the telecommunications industry in Croatia, further confirming HT's commitment to developing digital infrastructure, which is crucial for enhancing national competitiveness, economic growth, and social progress.

In 2023, HT expanded its gigabit optical Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network, increasing coverage by 20 percent compared to the previous year.

HT's optical network now covers 1.8 million people, connecting 132 cities and municipalities in 20 counties.

An investment of 135.5 million euros enabled HT to secure the largest share of the spectrum in a public auction for frequency bands, which is a key step for improving services and user experience in the next 15 years.

Independent analyses, including those conducted by Ookla, umlaut, and HAKOM, have confirmed that Croatian Telecom's network is the leading one in Croatia.

Investing in better coverage and network quality was accompanied by the introduction of modern ICT services that enabled digitalization, modernization, and business improvement. These services include the OneCity application, smart energy consumption monitoring, smart parking, and increasing e-mobility.

In the field of environmental protection and resource management, HT remains committed to key goals, including achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 for direct and indirect energy consumption within the organization. It also plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 2020, and to achieve climate neutrality by 2040.

HT reached the climate goal of sourcing 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources more than three years ago. In 2023, energy consumption was reduced by four percent, and CO2 emissions by three percent, representing a reduction of 210 tons of CO2. The amount of recycled waste increased by 41 percent.

HT concluded the first virtual corporate power purchase agreement (vPPA) for electricity from renewable sources in Croatia, covering a significant portion of its annual energy needs. The company began phasing out the 3G network, accelerating the transition to more energy-efficient 4G and 5G technologies.

HT launched the 'Call You Don't Want to Miss' platform dedicated to environmental protection, more efficient use of natural resources, and more responsible management of electronic equipment and waste. Through this initiative, a record 30,000 pieces of small ICT equipment were collected and disposed of in an environmentally safe manner in one year, preventing the release of more than six tons of CO2 just from collected mobile devices.

The number of e-bill users has increased by 400,000 since 2020. All T-brand products and smart phones from Deutsche Telekom's portfolio come in sustainable packaging, and through cooperation with business partners and suppliers, HT has increased the share of partner products with sustainable packaging.

Through digital inclusion programs, HT invests in education and actively works on raising the level of digital literacy among children, young people, and older adults, their inclusion in the digital world, and acquiring the necessary digital skills and knowledge. These programs include Tools for the Modern Age, Generation NOW, Generation Together, The World of Equal Opportunities, Digital Innovation Incubator, and the EU Boomer project for older adults.

In 2023, HT made additional strides in the areas of employee benefits and rights, customer experience, corporate governance, and socially responsible business. The new Collective Agreement allowed for an increase in employee work and material rights and new benefits, once again highlighting HT as a responsible social partner and the most desirable employer in the telecommunications industry. This is confirmed by awards for the best employer: for the ninth time, the Employer Partner status and the 'Equal Pay Champion' certificate.

More than 800 employees advanced through pay raises and job changes, while an additional 200 employees were included in development programs closely related to their career paths. At the end of the year, 39 percent of managerial positions were held by women, with complete pay parity with their male colleagues.

Customer satisfaction is the highest in history and the best on the market, thanks to the additional improvement of network quality and services, continuous employee education (an increase in the number of hours by 29 percent), and customer-focused programs. More than 350,000 customer comments and feedback were collected, resulting in improvements in the customer experience.

HT is the only Croatian company and one of only three telecoms in the world included on the World's Most Ethical Companies® list by the renowned Ethisphere. For the third consecutive year, HT received the 'Croatian Sustainability Index - HRIO' award from the Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development. The mental health promotion program 'How Are You?' was recognized as the best corporate social responsibility initiative in Europe, and the 'World of Equal Opportunities' program was multiple award-winning for promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Croatian Telecom remains committed to sustainable development with the goal of continuing to drive positive change and exceed limitations in 2024, creating a better future for all.