Riga, March 30 (LETA) - Mobile operator Bite Latvija plans to invest EUR 4 million in the development of its network in Latgale by 2028, the company told LETA.

The company said that Bite Latvija plans to modernize 50 existing base stations in Latgale, as well as to build 26 new base stations in areas with insufficient coverage, as well as in places where it is necessary to increase network capacity.

The new base stations will be located in Daugavpils and Rezekne, Augsdaugava, Ludza, Preili and Kraslava municipalities, as well as in the vicinity of major roads.

Aleksandrs Beļajevs, Head of the Radio Network Department at Bite Latvija, noted that cooperation with the state and local municipalities is crucial in the process of network infrastructure development, helping mobile operators identify locations where coverage needs to be strengthened, as well as sites and areas where new communication towers can be installed.

"This investment is a targeted effort to improve the quality of communications also in areas where network availability remains a challenge. At the same time, it is essential to assess where exactly network coverage is still needed and why. Mobile operators are working in a fiercely competitive environment and investing where there is real demand, but at the same time there are a number of challenges that the industry cannot solve alone," Belajevs noted.

He also said that the company is ready to adapt its network development plans if necessary, but that a coordinated approach and more active involvement of the state and local authorities is needed, both to identify and justify where network coverage needs to be strengthened and where new base stations should be deployed.

Currently, there are 155 Bite Latvija base stations in Latgale, 105 of which are equipped with the latest technologies from the Swedish telecommunications equipment manufacturer Ericsson.

As reported, in 2026, Bite Latvija plans to invest EUR 20 million in network modernization across Latvia, including the expansion of 5G coverage and the introduction of next-generation 5G+. This year, 70 new base stations are to be built across Latvia - 10 percent in Riga and 90 percent in the regions, especially Vidzeme and Latgale. In addition, 170 existing base stations will be upgraded with 5G.

By the end of next year, more than 1,200 Bite Latvija base stations are expected to be operational in Latvia, of which nearly 1,000 will be equipped with 5G technology.

In 2024, Bite Latvija posted a turnover of EUR 183.75 million, up 12.5 percent year-on-year, while its profit rose 1 percent to EUR 33.712 million. The company's financial results for 2025 have not yet been made public.

The company was registered in 2005 and has a share capital of EUR 44 million. Bite Latvija is wholly owned by the Lithuanian Bite group, which is owned by Providence Equity Partners, a global asset management company.