Lithuania leads Europe in fibre-optic internet penetration

“Lithuania receives this recognition for the sixth year in a row. A considerable amount of investments in advanced infrastructure is one of the key factors that impacts our leadership,” said Tomas Karpavičius, chancellor of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. “Therefore, the development of broadband internet providing the coverage of over 30 Mbps for all residents in Lithuania and especially in rural areas remains one of our priorities,” he.

The ministry together with Public Establishment Plačiajuostis Internetas implemented Rural Area Information Technology Broadband Network RAIN project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The value of the project is over EUR 22 million. In addition, Rural Area Information Technology Broadband Network RAIN-2 project is being completed.

It is expected that successfully implemented RAIN-2 project will allow almost 99 percent of country’s rural population to use the broadband network services. A total of 5,400 km of fibre-optic cable lines will be built and 950 Lithuanian towns and villages will be connected to the broadband network.

The goal of Lithuania’s Next Generation Internet Access Development plan 2014-2020 prepared by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania is to develop next generation Internet access infrastructure in areas in which market fails to ensure development of this infrastructure. The state will invest in long-term passive infrastructure; that is in certain areas construct fibre-optic lines and communication towers. Activation equipment on these towers will be installed and services to end-users provided by electronic telecommunications operators.

Taking into account all possible access technologies, it is expected that in 2020 a new generation Internet access will cover 100 percent of all households of the country.