Telecommunications reform in Croatia

This article looks at developments affecting Croatian telecommunications policy, with a special focus on significant market power (SMP) regulations in the sector since 1999. The first modern telecommunications regulatory system was established in Croatia with the implementation of the Telecommunications Act in 1999, and since that time, specific laws have helped the sector meet the standards required by the EU framework. Legislative, institutional, and economic developments are analysed and compared using various indicators from EU countries. The results of this analysis suggest that Croatia's regulatory system may not be ready for effective SMP regulation in the telecommunications sector, although significant improvements have been made in the last few years. Key reasons for these developments, as well as the challenges facing Croatia as it embarks on accession negotiations with the EU, are also discussed.