Latvia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Latvia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Latvia's telecom regulator completes new spectrum auctions

Latvia's telecom market continues to benefit from investment and from regulatory measures aimed at developing 5G and fibre-based infrastructure. Although the mobile market is dominated by three operators there is effective competition between them, with the smallest among them having almost a quarter of the market by subscribers.

These multi-service operators have focussed investment on fibre networks and on expanding the reach of 5G. Mobile network capacity has been improved since 2022 following the auction of spectrum in the 700MHz and 1.5GHz bands. In addition, operators have entered into agreements with neighbouring Estonia and Lithuania to coordinate the use of spectrum for 5G in border areas, thus improving coverage to end-users without interference.

In the fixed-line broadband sector, the country is ranked among the highest in Europe for fibre coverage and take-up, being among the seven countries in the region with a fibre penetration rate about 50%. It has the second highest rural FttP coverage after Denmark. With this infrastructure in place, the country has also developed a sophisticated digital economy, with e-commerce and e-government services widely available.

Key Developments:

Telia Group sells its local unit Telia Latvia to Tet for 10.75 million.
Tet launches a 10Gb/s FttP service to areas of Riga.
Regulator raises 13.27 million from auction of additional spectrum in the 700MHz band.
Telecom regulator allows Bité Latvia and Unistars to make joint use of spectrum in the 1800MHz and 3600MHz bands for 5G.
Tele2 Latvia launches a VoLTE service.
Regulator permits Bité and Tele2 Latvia to share spectrum assets.
Report update includes the regulator's market data updates for 2021, telcos' operating and financial data to Q4 2022, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Tet (Lattelecom), Baltcom TV, Izzi, Viasat, Latvia Mobilais Telefons, Bité Latvia, Telekom Baltija, ZetCom, Tele2 Latvia, Latvenergo.