July
2000
Lithuania
Update Memo
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Lithuania Update Memo |
The following report outlines new developments in the past three months and the state of on-going developments.
1. Mobile communications
The main direction of the developments was the introduction of new services. In June, the mobile communication company Bite GSM (occupies about 40% of Lithuania mobile communication market) started providing Internet services. The company plans to sell Internet services through distributors. One of the Bite GSM Internet services distributors is the IT company Sonex (www.sonex.lt). Bite GSM has its own communications infrastructure, which is used for voice and data communications. Executive Director Mr Alex Wurtz announced that Bite GSM is ready to provide all voice and data communication services to any Lithuanian company (Newspaper "Verslo zinios" information). Most of Bite GSM clients were private persons before the year 2000. Currently this company is paying more attention to the enterprise sector.
The mobile communication company NetCom with network Tele-2 (started in Vilnius area at the end of 1999) is trying to attract users with a simple price structure and free additional services: charge-free short messages, possibility to choose number and others. In the year 2000 Tele-2 plans to invest 30 MEURO for the establishment of infrastructure in other Lithuanian cities. Currently, Tele-2 is providing service and at DCS 1800 MHz and expects to win competition for GSM 900 licence.
The largest mobile communication Omnitel (occupies about 60% of market) continues its activity in developing electronic banking services. Bank Snoras signed an agreement with Omnitel for new banking services iBankas, GSM-Bankas, Elkas, BIS. More information at http://www.snoras.com.
Lithuania Telekomas, owner of Comliet with NMT – 450, has signed a 7,5 MEURO agreement with Nokia for equipment needed to develop wireless infrastructure in rural areas. Comliet has now 9000 users and expects to increase the number of users up to 45000. Lithuania Telekomas expects to minimise waiting queues in areas where there are no fixed lines infrastructure.
2. Utilities with a potential for use in IS applications
Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) has already issued all Laws needed for the reorganisation of Lietuvos Energija in year 2000. The restructuring and partial privatisation of Lietuvos Energija (Lithuania Power) is possible in the second half of the year 2000. Lietuvos Energija is developing fiber optic lines between main cities and has plans to build a Power Bridge to West. Therefore Lietuvos Energija could become one of the main competitors in the telecommunication area in the near future.
Further development of Cable TV infrastructure was noticed during the last three months. Lithuanian territories where private Cable TV companies can provide their services are already divided. In Vilnius, area Cable TV is accessible to more than 78% of citizens, but only 44% are users. At present, Cable TV companies have 230.000 users, but they are accessible to more than 550.000 users. Most of Cable TV companies are ready to provide Internet and voice telephony services.
The State enterprise Lithuania Radio and TV Centre - LRTC (www.lrtc.lt) has its own radio relay infrastructure between main cities and is also available for IS applications.
3. On-going developments
UAB Taide, one of the Internet pioneers in Lithuania, broke up activities and was splited in two parts. The Internet part of Taide was merged to Delfi (the owner is Estonian company Microlink). Delfi has ambitious plans for achieving a leading position among Internet providers. Other part of Taide, the group of high quality networks specialists, merged to Cygate (Swedish company). Internet services, IP telephony, firewalls, wireless communications and e-business solutions are Cygate activities in Lithuania.
Main information sources:
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