TV-SAT, CCTV and WLAN Guide

Zagreb is opening a new chapter in autonomous transport.

Autonomous taxis are no longer merely a technological curiosity or a pilot project in Europe. Zagreb has become the first European city where Uber users can book a ride in an autonomous car directly via the popular app. Pony.ai is responsible for the autonomous driving technology, whilst the Croatian company Verne owns and operates the fleet. The launch of the service in the Croatian capital may be just the beginning of a much larger expansion. Uber and Pony.ai have announced plans to introduce over 2,000 robotaxis in five European cities.

The most significant change for passengers is the integration of autonomous vehicles into the Uber app. Users do not need to install a separate app designed exclusively for robotaxis. When booking an UberX or Comfort journey, they may be offered the option of using an autonomous vehicle, provided one is available nearby. The service currently covers selected parts of Zagreb, including the city centre. The vehicles operate daily from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm. Both the operating hours and the service area are set to be gradually expanded. Interestingly, commercial autonomous rides in Zagreb had already begun earlier via the Verne app. However, the integration with Uber is a significant step, as it gives users of one of the world’s largest ride-hailing platforms access to robotaxis.

The term ‘robotaxi’ might suggest that, once booked, a car with absolutely no driver will arrive. At this stage, however, things are slightly different. There is still a licensed safety operator on board, whose role is to monitor the system’s operation and respond in emergency situations. This is a transitional stage ahead of the planned launch of driverless services. Pony.ai’s technology has been designed with Level 4 (L4) autonomy in mind. This means that, under specific conditions and within a designated area, the vehicle can perform all driving-related tasks without the need for human intervention.

The project in Zagreb is also interesting because of it's business model. Rather than having a single company build the entire system from scratch, the tasks have been divided among three partners. Pony.ai provides the autonomous driving system and the experience gained from operating robotaxis in China, among other places. Verne owns the fleet and is responsible for its day-to-day operation and the local organisation of the service. Uber, meanwhile, provides the platform through which passengers can book and pay for journeys. This division of responsibilities could significantly facilitate the roll-out of robotaxis to other countries. Uber does not need to design autonomous vehicles itself or own the entire fleet, whilst the technology provider does not need to build an app from scratch or acquire millions of customers.

Uber and Pony.ai have announced an expansion of their partnership, which is set to result in the deployment of over 2,000 robotaxis in five European cities. In addition to Zagreb, four further locations are planned. Their names and exact launch dates are to be revealed gradually. However, the scale of the project shows that the companies do not view autonomous taxis merely as a demonstration of technological capabilities. The aim is to create a replicable model that can be rolled out relatively quickly to other markets. What’s more, the partnership between Uber and Pony.ai is not limited to Europe alone. The companies also plan to roll out similar services in the Middle East.

The choice of the Croatian capital is no coincidence. Zagreb offers a highly varied road environment – ranging from wide, modern thoroughfares to older neighbourhoods with narrow, winding streets. For an autonomous driving system, this means having to cope with many different types of junctions, pedestrian traffic, public transport and changing road conditions. The first phase of Verne’s commercial service covered an area of around 90 km², including connections in the vicinity of Zagreb Airport. If the system proves successful in such conditions, the experience gained in Croatia could be utilised when launching robotaxis in other European cities. The most important aspect of launching the service in Zagreb is therefore not simply the introduction of a few autonomous cars. Tests of such vehicles have been conducted in Europe for years. What matters is the integration of autonomous technology with a standard transport service that can be used by the average app user.

DIPOL at Energetab 2026.

Energetab, the international energy industry trade fair, is one of the most important gatherings of leading representatives from the electricity sector and related sectors.

At the trade fair, we will be showcasing systems designed for the remote reading of data from electricity meters. We will discuss the design and measurement aspects of such systems. There will also be the latest solutions for CCTV systems from Hikvision, designed for the energy sector, such as thermal imaging cameras, perimeter security cameras and cameras resistant to extreme operating conditions. Part of the stand will be dedicated to fibre optics. We will be showcasing the latest splicers from Signal Fire AI-12, as well as a new product: hybrid cables, which enable the transmission of optical signals and power supply via a single cable.

Our sales and technical advisers will be on hand to assist you with the design and implementation of telecommunications installations. Our interactive stand, specially designed for this trade fair, will enable you to test how our solutions work. Among other things, you will be able to familiarise yourself with camera functions, carry out fibre-optic splicing, and operate a mobile phone signal meter.

Further details and information about the trade fair are available here.

Signal PROfessional optical transmitters and receivers – installer-friendly performance.

When carrying out RTV/SAT installations based on a fibre-optic bus, installers often encounter similar problems, regardless of the system chosen. One of the most common problems is an excessively high optical signal level at the receiver’s input. This situation arises when the bus does not include a split (signal split) or includes only a small one.

Most optical solutions for SMATV installations available on the market comprise a transmitter with a power of +7 dBm and receivers capable of handling a signal with a maximum power of 0 dBm. For the system to operate correctly and to prevent the receiver from being overdriven, the signal output from the transmitter must be attenuated by at least 7 dB. This means that if the transmitter is connected directly to the receiver, or even if a 2-way splitter (with an attenuation of approximately 3.5 dB) is used, the system will not function correctly without the installation of an additional attenuator. This is one of the most common problems.

In the case of Signal PROfessional devices, the dynamic range has been set slightly differently. The typical transmitter power is around +5 dBm, whilst the maximum signal acceptable to the receiver is around +3 dBm. This means that only 2 dB needs to be ‘attenuated’ from the signal power – rather than 7 dB as in other cases – for the installation to function correctly. In theory, these 2 dB are still slightly too much for a typical point-to-point connection, however, experience shows that by using cable and patch cords, and taking advantage of the fact that the ranges specified by the manufacturer include a certain margin, the vast majority of installations work straight away, without the need for additional signal attenuators.