Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC ) informs that the Committee for Supervision of Optical Networks has approved the State Aid Programme No.SA.33324 (2011/N) "Next Generation Networks in Rural Areas", the tariffs and tariff calculation methodology for the infrastructure service "SJSC Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (hereinafter - LVRTC ) informs that the Committee for Supervision of Optical Networks has approved the State Aid Programme No.SA.33324 (2011/N) "Next Generation Networks in Rural Areas", the tariffs and tariff calculation methodology for the infrastructure service "Medium Mile Optical Network Resource Lease". The tariffs for the rental of the optical network remain at the current level of EUR 10/km/month, but in supported areas operators may receive a 30% discount on the rental fee.
Currently 17 electronic communications operators use the medium-mile broadband optical network to provide services to end-users - institutions and organisations. The broadband optical network is used by mobile operators, 2 national electronic communications providers, and 11 regional Internet and cable TV providers to provide services. During the Optical Broadband project, 72 mobile towers and 18 educational institutions were connected to the network.
In total, operators have leased just over 7,000km of fibre optic network. The most widely used network is in Vidzeme, where more than 2365km of fibre have been leased. This is followed by Zemgale, where operators have leased more than 1757km of optical network. In Latgale and Kurzeme, operators have leased 1439km and 1465km of fibre respectively.
So far, 70 areas in Latvia have been identified as eligible areas. This year, the list has been extended by one more - Sece, Aizkraukle municipality. The localities identified as eligible are areas with a particularly low population density, where operators do not currently provide high-speed and ultra-high-speed internet services and do not plan to build their own optical network. Currently, operators provide services and receive tariff rental discounts only in 4 assisted areas - Matkule, Līzespasts in Trapene municipality, Vestiena in Madona municipality and Ineši in Cēsis municipality.
The map of the broadband optical network, access tariff methodology and installation costs can be found at: www.lvrtc.lv/pakalpojumi/operatoriem/videja_judze/
The construction of the medium-mile broadband optical network in Latvia has been implemented in two phases since 2012 by LVRTC . The project was completed in December 2023. The project was implemented with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund.
