A1, part of the A1 Telekom Austria Group, serves approximately two million customers and employs 2,000 people in Croatia. The company is driving technological advancements by investing in 5G and operating the country's largest fibre-optic network, delivering ultra-fast internet and digital solutions for individuals and businesses.
"Beyond connectivity, we offer integrated mobile, fixed and TV services, advanced cloud, and ICT as a service solution," explains Bojan Klasan, Head of Data Center at A1.
A1’s Croatian data centre infrastructure
"We operate Croatia's most state-of-the-art data centre, which recently underwent complex recertification and received a Tier III Facility certificate," Bojan says.
This certification makes A1's data centre one of only two in Croatia, and the only one in the Zagreb area, with this level of protection. The certification guarantees users the highest level of security, with impeccable 24/7 maintenance and support, and comprehensive ICT solutions that allow business users to focus on their core business without worrying about infrastructure.
A1's data centre infrastructure is geographically distributed, ensuring high availability, security and scalability for both internal operations and B2B customers. The company's data centres are strategically positioned across the country, supporting cloud computing, enterprise solutions, and mission-critical services with redundancy and compliance at the core of their design.
At the heart of A1's infrastructure is DC Nežićeva (DCN), the newest and most advanced data centre, built in 2021.
"DCN serves both B2B customers and internal operations as a secondary redundant site,” says Bojan. “It spans three floors with six server rooms and holds a Tier 3 Constructed Facility certificate, along with PCI DSS, ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications."
A1 also operates three more data centres in Zagreb, designed to support mainly internal infrastructure. One of the primary facilities, built in 2012, houses three server rooms and now operates at 90% capacity. Another long-standing site, in operation since 1999, has historically served as a key technical hub, though most of its server rooms will be decommissioned by the end of 2025 as part of a broader infrastructure consolidation.
Beyond Zagreb, A1 maintains a network of regional data centres that provide redundancy and support for critical infrastructure. Data centres in Rijeka, Split and Osijek were originally established as regional telecommunication hubs in the early 2000s and continue to serve as essential sites for internal operations and geo-redundant backups.
"All A1's data centres are built to ensure high availability and reliability, featuring redundant and robust infrastructure, geographic redundancy, with regular maintenance and upgrades," he says.
The company's commitment to sustainability is evident in its data centre operations. A1 integrates environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles into its strategic approach, focusing on reducing energy consumption, minimising environmental impact and aligning with global sustainability goals.
"Our data centres are designed with energy-efficient infrastructure and cooling technologies to reduce their environmental impact," Bojan explains. "We ensure that our facilities rely exclusively on renewable energy sources, including solar power and nuclear energy, which significantly reduce carbon emissions."
A1's energy consumption practices are particularly noteworthy. Despite a significant increase in ICT load and the growing number of colocation customers over the past three years, the company's energy consumption has remained stable. This is achieved through infrastructure consolidation, the use of low-power hardware and virtualisation.
Comprehensive cloud and hosting services
A1 offers a comprehensive suite of cloud and hosting services designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses. These include data centre colocation, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), private and hybrid cloud solutions, Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), Backup as a Service (BaaS), Microsoft 365 integration and a Security Operations Center (SOC).
"These services, combined with our robust infrastructure, Tier 3 certifications, and adherence to industry standards, ensure that A1 delivers reliable, secure and scalable cloud and hosting solutions for businesses of all sizes," Bojan says.
Edge computing will soon play a crucial role in A1's infrastructure strategy, with the company testing it for several use cases. By deploying regional data centres closer to users, A1 aims to significantly reduce latency and enhance real-time processing capabilities for next-generation technologies, including 5G, IoT, AI and smart city solutions.
Commitment to sustainability and green technologies
A1 drives continuous investment in green energy solutions, energy-efficient infrastructure and eco-friendly initiatives aimed at reducing the company's overall environmental footprint. As part of the A1 Group, the company fully recognises its ecological and social responsibilities, working proactively toward promoting a more resource-efficient and sustainable business model.
Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles are integrated into its strategic approach, focusing on reducing energy consumption and minimising environmental impact. This commitment extends to all aspects of the company's operations, including its data centres.
In line with the EU's ambitious targets of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050, A1 is committed to advancing sustainable practices across all aspects of its business. The company's data centres, which play a crucial role in its operations, are designed with energy-efficient infrastructure and cooling technologies to reduce their environmental impact.
Renewable energy usage in data centres
A1 ensures that its facilities rely exclusively on renewable energy sources, including solar power and nuclear energy, which significantly reduce carbon emissions.
"Our key data centres are powered by a combination of solar energy harvested from several solar stations and other renewable sources, ensuring a high level of energy efficiency while maintaining consistent operational reliability,” Bojan says.
The company continuously monitors and optimises its energy consumption, with the goal of achieving even greater efficiency across all its sites. These efforts allow A1 to maintain world-class performance and uptime for its customers while contributing to both regional and global sustainability objectives.
Energy consumption practices and efficiency measures
Despite a significant increase in ICT load and the growing number of colocation customers over the past three years, the company's energy consumption has remained stable.
This remarkable achievement is the result of several strategic initiatives. A1 has focused on consolidating its infrastructure and implementing advanced technologies that enhance power usage efficiency and reduce cooling requirements. The company's data centres use energy-efficient cooling systems such as free-air cooling, minimising energy demands for temperature control.
Through infrastructure consolidation, the use of low-power hardware, and virtualisation, A1 has been able to optimise its ICT footprint while keeping energy consumption steady, in line with regional and global sustainability goals. This approach not only reduces operational costs but also significantly minimises the company's environmental impact.
Given Croatia's climate, the company makes the most of free cooling methods, utilising natural air conditions to minimise the need for energy-intensive air conditioning.
"Coupled with our use of renewable energy sources like solar and nuclear power, this approach not only reduces our energy consumption but also supports our commitment to sustainability," Bojan says.
"With cooler months throughout the year, we can further leverage these cooling solutions to improve efficiency while keeping our environmental impact low."
A1, part of the A1 Telekom Austria Group, serves approximately two million customers and employs 2,000 people in Croatia. The company is driving technological advancements by investing in 5G and operating the country's largest fibre-optic network, delivering ultra-fast internet and digital solutions for individuals and businesses.
"Beyond connectivity, we offer integrated mobile, fixed and TV services, advanced cloud, and ICT as a service solution," explains Bojan Klasan, Head of Data Center at A1.
A1’s Croatian data centre infrastructure
"We operate Croatia's most state-of-the-art data centre, which recently underwent complex recertification and received a Tier III Facility certificate," Bojan says.
This certification makes A1's data centre one of only two in Croatia, and the only one in the Zagreb area, with this level of protection. The certification guarantees users the highest level of security, with impeccable 24/7 maintenance and support, and comprehensive ICT solutions that allow business users to focus on their core business without worrying about infrastructure.
A1's data centre infrastructure is geographically distributed, ensuring high availability, security and scalability for both internal operations and B2B customers. The company's data centres are strategically positioned across the country, supporting cloud computing, enterprise solutions, and mission-critical services with redundancy and compliance at the core of their design.
At the heart of A1's infrastructure is DC Nežićeva (DCN), the newest and most advanced data centre, built in 2021.
"DCN serves both B2B customers and internal operations as a secondary redundant site,” says Bojan. “It spans three floors with six server rooms and holds a Tier 3 Constructed Facility certificate, along with PCI DSS, ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications."
A1 also operates three more data centres in Zagreb, designed to support mainly internal infrastructure. One of the primary facilities, built in 2012, houses three server rooms and now operates at 90% capacity. Another long-standing site, in operation since 1999, has historically served as a key technical hub, though most of its server rooms will be decommissioned by the end of 2025 as part of a broader infrastructure consolidation.
Beyond Zagreb, A1 maintains a network of regional data centres that provide redundancy and support for critical infrastructure. Data centres in Rijeka, Split and Osijek were originally established as regional telecommunication hubs in the early 2000s and continue to serve as essential sites for internal operations and geo-redundant backups.
"All A1's data centres are built to ensure high availability and reliability, featuring redundant and robust infrastructure, geographic redundancy, with regular maintenance and upgrades," he says.
The company's commitment to sustainability is evident in its data centre operations. A1 integrates environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles into its strategic approach, focusing on reducing energy consumption, minimising environmental impact and aligning with global sustainability goals.
"Our data centres are designed with energy-efficient infrastructure and cooling technologies to reduce their environmental impact," Bojan explains. "We ensure that our facilities rely exclusively on renewable energy sources, including solar power and nuclear energy, which significantly reduce carbon emissions."
A1's energy consumption practices are particularly noteworthy. Despite a significant increase in ICT load and the growing number of colocation customers over the past three years, the company's energy consumption has remained stable. This is achieved through infrastructure consolidation, the use of low-power hardware and virtualisation.
Comprehensive cloud and hosting services
A1 offers a comprehensive suite of cloud and hosting services designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses. These include data centre colocation, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), private and hybrid cloud solutions, Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), Backup as a Service (BaaS), Microsoft 365 integration and a Security Operations Center (SOC).
"These services, combined with our robust infrastructure, Tier 3 certifications, and adherence to industry standards, ensure that A1 delivers reliable, secure and scalable cloud and hosting solutions for businesses of all sizes," Bojan says.
Edge computing will soon play a crucial role in A1's infrastructure strategy, with the company testing it for several use cases. By deploying regional data centres closer to users, A1 aims to significantly reduce latency and enhance real-time processing capabilities for next-generation technologies, including 5G, IoT, AI and smart city solutions.
Commitment to sustainability and green technologies
A1 drives continuous investment in green energy solutions, energy-efficient infrastructure and eco-friendly initiatives aimed at reducing the company's overall environmental footprint. As part of the A1 Group, the company fully recognises its ecological and social responsibilities, working proactively toward promoting a more resource-efficient and sustainable business model.
Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles are integrated into its strategic approach, focusing on reducing energy consumption and minimising environmental impact. This commitment extends to all aspects of the company's operations, including its data centres.
In line with the EU's ambitious targets of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050, A1 is committed to advancing sustainable practices across all aspects of its business. The company's data centres, which play a crucial role in its operations, are designed with energy-efficient infrastructure and cooling technologies to reduce their environmental impact.
Renewable energy usage in data centres
A1 ensures that its facilities rely exclusively on renewable energy sources, including solar power and nuclear energy, which significantly reduce carbon emissions.
"Our key data centres are powered by a combination of solar energy harvested from several solar stations and other renewable sources, ensuring a high level of energy efficiency while maintaining consistent operational reliability,” Bojan says.
The company continuously monitors and optimises its energy consumption, with the goal of achieving even greater efficiency across all its sites. These efforts allow A1 to maintain world-class performance and uptime for its customers while contributing to both regional and global sustainability objectives.
Energy consumption practices and efficiency measures
Despite a significant increase in ICT load and the growing number of colocation customers over the past three years, the company's energy consumption has remained stable.
This remarkable achievement is the result of several strategic initiatives. A1 has focused on consolidating its infrastructure and implementing advanced technologies that enhance power usage efficiency and reduce cooling requirements. The company's data centres use energy-efficient cooling systems such as free-air cooling, minimising energy demands for temperature control.
Through infrastructure consolidation, the use of low-power hardware, and virtualisation, A1 has been able to optimise its ICT footprint while keeping energy consumption steady, in line with regional and global sustainability goals. This approach not only reduces operational costs but also significantly minimises the company's environmental impact.
Given Croatia's climate, the company makes the most of free cooling methods, utilising natural air conditions to minimise the need for energy-intensive air conditioning.
"Coupled with our use of renewable energy sources like solar and nuclear power, this approach not only reduces our energy consumption but also supports our commitment to sustainability," Bojan says.
"With cooler months throughout the year, we can further leverage these cooling solutions to improve efficiency while keeping our environmental impact low."
Security and data protection standards
Security and data protection are paramount in A1's data centre operations. The company implements robust physical and cybersecurity measures to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of its infrastructure and customer data.
Physical security measures include multi-layered access controls, biometric authentication systems, round-the-clock surveillance and secure perimeters that prevent unauthorised access. These measures are designed to protect against physical threats and ensure that only authorised personnel can access sensitive areas of the data centres.
On the cybersecurity front, A1 deploys state-of-the-art defences to safeguard its infrastructure. These include next-generation firewalls, AI-driven threat detection systems and robust DDoS protection mechanisms. These advanced security measures work in concert to detect, prevent, and mitigate potential cyber threats in real-time.
Adhering to internationally recognised security standards is a cornerstone of A1's operations. The company complies with ISO 27001 for information security management, ensuring that comprehensive security controls are in place to protect information assets.
A1 also fully meets GDPR requirements, demonstrating its commitment to protecting the privacy and personal data of its customers. As a trusted provider for banking infrastructures, the company maintains PCI-DSS certification, showcasing its dedication to safeguarding sensitive financial data.
A1's data centres are Tier 3 certified and meet ANSI/TIA-942 standards, ensuring high availability and reliability. Additionally, the company's cloud services align with ISO 22301 standards for business continuity, guaranteeing consistent and uninterrupted service availability.
Comprehensive cloud and hosting services
A1 offers a wide range of cloud and hosting services designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses across various sectors. These services leverage the company's robust infrastructure and industry-leading certifications to provide reliable, secure, and scalable solutions.
Offerings include data centre colocation, allowing businesses to host their own infrastructure in A1's secure and reliable facilities. For those looking for more flexible solutions, A1 provides Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), offering scalable virtual servers and storage solutions that enable businesses to grow their infrastructure as needed.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions are also available, providing cloud environments optimised for application development. This enables businesses to build, test and deploy applications efficiently without the need to manage the underlying infrastructure.
For enterprises requiring more control and customisation, A1 offers private and hybrid cloud solutions. These secure, high-performance environments are tailored to enterprise needs, offering the benefits of both private and public clouds while maintaining control and flexibility.
Disaster recovery and business continuity solutions
Recognising the critical importance of business continuity, A1 provides Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS). This solution offers advanced real-time replication and failover capabilities, ensuring that businesses can quickly recover and continue operations in the event of an outage or disaster.
Complementing this, the company also offers Backup as a Service (BaaS), providing secure and reliable data backup solutions to safeguard critical business data. This service ensures that businesses can quickly recover their data in case of accidental deletion, hardware failure, or cyber attacks.
Integrated productivity and security solutions
To enhance collaboration and productivity, A1 offers seamless integration with Microsoft 365, enabling businesses to leverage cloud-based applications and services. This integration allows companies to work more efficiently and collaboratively, regardless of their physical location.
Security remains a top priority, and A1's Security Operations Center (SOC) provides proactive monitoring and protection against security threats. This service ensures the integrity of customers' infrastructure and data, offering peace of mind in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
"These services, combined with our robust infrastructure, Tier 3 certifications and adherence to industry standards, ensure that A1 delivers reliable, secure and scalable cloud and hosting solutions for businesses of all sizes," Bojan explains.
Processing closer to the edge
Looking ahead, edge computing is set to play a crucial role in A1's infrastructure strategy. The company is currently in the process of testing edge computing for several use cases and preparing for wider implementation.
By deploying regional data centres closer to users, A1 aims to significantly reduce latency and enhance real-time processing capabilities. This approach will be particularly beneficial for next-generation technologies, including 5G networks, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, AI applications and smart city solutions.
"Edge computing will allow us to process data closer to where it's generated, reducing the need for long-distance communications between clients and servers,” Bojan explains. “This will not only improve response times but also reduce bandwidth usage and enhance security and privacy."
As A1 continues to innovate and expand its data centre capabilities, the company remains committed to driving digital transformation while prioritising sustainability, security, and customer satisfaction.
Bojan concludes: "Our mission goes beyond simply providing telecommunications services—we strive to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to embrace digital transformation seamlessly."
To read the article in the magaizne, click HERE
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Bojan Klasan
Head of Data Centre at A1 Croatia