Lithuania lacks a resilient nationwide electronic communications network capable of withstanding major disruptions, a Communications Regulatory Authority official said Wednesday after a severe weekend storm damaged power infrastructure and disrupted mobile services across the country.
“We must candidly admit that today in Lithuania we do not have an equally resilient electronic communications system covering the entire country,” Darius Kuliešius, deputy chairman of the authority’s board, told LRT RADIO. “To achieve this, we must invest and discuss not only the obligations of business entities but also the state’s contribution to strengthening connectivity across Lithuania.”
The regulator has imposed requirements on private mobile operators to expand their infrastructure, with an additional 72 million euros in investment expected. The funding is intended to reduce so-called white spots, or areas with limited or no coverage, and improve the overall resilience of communications networks.
As the storm swept across Lithuania Saturday, as many as 800 mobile base stations were offline simultaneously, Kuliešius said. Restoration efforts were prioritised based on population density and the location of critical infrastructure.
