The first 9 Development of Next Generation Access Infrastructure project communication towers are ready for use by operators
As part of the implementation of the “Development of Next Generation Access Infrastructure” project, the first 9 communication towers have been constructed.
Infrastructure has been established in the following locations: Jurgiškiai village (Alytus district), Girininkai and Maštaičiai villages (Kaunas district), Tabariškiai village (Kazlų Rūda), Šilagalys village (Panevėžys district), Gudeliai village (Šalčininkai district), Slabada village (Ukmergė district), Pliupai village (Utena district), and Pilvingiai village (Varėna district). This infrastructure enables operators to begin providing high-quality communication services in so-called "white areas" – territories that were previously not covered by next-generation access infrastructure, where residents and businesses could not access reliable internet services.
All the communication towers, each 60 meters high, are connected to the fiber-optic network managed by the public institution “Plačiajuostis internetas” and to the electricity grid. The towers are equipped with security and video surveillance systems that allow the institution's network operations staff to monitor the tower areas 24/7 and respond quickly to service disruptions and other incidents. This ensures a high level of quality in the wholesale communication services provided by “Plačiajuostis internetas”. Auxiliary tower systems have been implemented, allowing remote control of operator and contractor access to tower areas, monitoring of tower tilt, and tracking of environmental conditions.
We invite operators to take advantage of this new infrastructure and begin providing next-generation internet access services to end-users. The communication towers are designed to host equipment in different tower sections, and antenna mounting elements, as well as electrical and optical cables, have been installed throughout the tower structures. Operators can also install equipment in switching cabinets provided by the institution or install their own cabinets. More information about the services available at the communication towers can be found [here].
The wholesale communication services available at the towers and their pricing are approved by the Order No. 3-543 of the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania, dated November 29, 2021, “On the tariffs for services provided by the public institution “Plačiajuostis internetas””.
In total, 25 communication towers are planned to be constructed in 20 municipalities as part of the project. Construction procedures for another 16 towers are expected to be completed in the first half of 2023. Additionally, the project has included the installation of 1,235 km of fiber-optic lines and the connection of 310 existing infrastructure sites to the network. Although the project has not yet been completed, the infrastructure already serves 16 operators who are currently using 247 wholesale communication services.
The goal of the project is to enable residents to connect to a next-generation access network in areas not currently covered by such infrastructure (“white spots”), and where no development of this infrastructure is planned within the next three years.
The NGIA project is being implemented under Priority 2 “Promoting the Information Society” of the 2014–2020 European Union Funds Investment Operational Programme of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania, under measure No. 02.1.1-CPVA-V-521 “Development of Next Generation Access.” The project is partially funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The implementation deadline for the project is August 31, 2023.
For questions regarding service orders at the communication towers, please contact us via email at: [email protected]