“Our goal is to achieve broadband connectivity and 100 Mbps download speed in all households of Lithuania. This will allow operating mechanisms, streaming high definition video information and enabling virtual reality (for teaching, telemedicine and other purposes). It will also open up possibilities to provide new services, reduce regional exclusion and promote the creation of high added value jobs,” the Minister said.
It is planned to allocate EUR 75 million for the development of ultra-fast internet connectivity. These funds are to be used for building transmission towers and fibre loop. While planning investment into high-speed internet development, it is necessary to ensure that main public and economic activity spaces and public institutions are connected to the broadband network. Ultra-fast data flow rates would highly benefit public institutions, such as schools, hospitals and others.
High-capacity network infrastructure is expected to attract more market participants’ investment and, at the same time, to allow new market entry, promote competition in the broadband market and usage of broadband services.
Before drafting the plan for broadband internet development, the experts conducted an in-depth analysis. It showed that around 32 percent (or 429 546) of Lithuanian households have no access to fixed broadband internet with at least 100 Mbps data rates.
The plan prepared by the Ministry of Transport and Communications sets up measures to be implemented by Lithuanian public authorities within the financing period of 2021–2027 EU structural assistance with the view to achieve ultra-fast broadband internet development targets provided for in Lithuanian and EU strategic documents.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications and public sector institutions, along with telecommunications services operators, signed a Memorandum agreeing to jointly achieve one of the targets, i. e. 100 Mbps internet speed access for at least 95 percent of Lithuanian households by 2025.
