Internet Access in Lithuania

Lithuania has a well-developed internet ecosystem with widespread high-speed access, especially in cities. As of 2023, about 88–89% of Lithuanian households use the internet rrt.lt. The country has invested heavily in fiber-optic broadband, and nearly four-fifths of homes can get Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) connections (mostly fiber) en.wikipedia.org. Mobile broadband is also ubiquitous – fourth-generation (4G) coverage is near universal, and fifth-generation (5G) networks rolled out rapidly in 2022–2023 en.wikipedia.org. However, an urban-rural gap persists: fixed broadband infrastructure covers almost all urban households but leaves a portion of rural areas with limited wired access (many rural users rely on mobile or satellite links). The government and telecom industry have undertaken numerous initiatives – from EU-funded rural fiber projects to aggressive 5G expansion – to improve coverage and speeds. Below is a detailed look at Lithuania’s internet service providers, infrastructure (fiber, DSL, cable, mobile, satellite), historical developments, service speeds and pricing, policy initiatives, and how Lithuania compares with other EU countries.

Key Internet Service Providers and Market Share

Lithuania’s telecom market is dominated by a few key providers. Telia Lietuva (formerly Teo, now part of the Nordic Telia group) is the largest, offering fixed-line, broadband, and mobile services. In 2023 Telia accounted for about 38.5% of the electronic communications market revenue rrt.lt. The next largest players are mobile network operators Tele2 and Bitė Lietuva, with roughly 27.1% and 21.3% market share respectively rrt.lt. These three operators (Telia, Tele2, Bitė) together make up nearly 87% of telecom sector revenue rrt.lt. Telia operates the most extensive fixed broadband network (fiber and legacy DSL) in addition to its mobile network, while Tele2 and Bitė focus on mobile services (including mobile broadband and fixed-wireless offerings).

Among fixed broadband-focused ISPs, Cgates is a notable provider, originally a cable TV company now offering cable and fiber internet, holding about 3% of market revenue rrt.lt. Beyond these, there are numerous smaller regional ISPs – such as Splius, Init, Balticum and others – that collectively account for roughly 10% of the market rrt.lt. Many of the smaller players provide fiber-optic or cable internet in specific cities or regions. The competitive landscape has encouraged affordable prices and high speeds (particularly in urban areas), though Telia remains the incumbent with the broadest infrastructure reach.

Infrastructure and Network Coverage

Fiber-Optic and Fixed Broadband Networks

Fiber-Optic (FTTP) Networks: Fiber is the backbone of Lithuania’s fixed broadband. By 2023, fiber-optic lines passed ~61% of residential premises nationwide rrt.lt. This FTTP coverage (around 78% according to EU definitions) is well above the EU average (~56%) en.wikipedia.org. In cities and large towns, fiber connectivity is extensive – multi-dwelling apartment buildings in urban areas are commonly wired with gigabit-capable fiber. Telia and several municipal or private operators deployed robust fiber networks during the 2010s. As a result, Lithuania was an early European leader in fiber broadband adoption. However, fiber rollout has slowed recently as the remaining uncovered areas are mostly sparsely populated rural regions that are costlier to reach. In 2023 the Communications Regulatory Authority (RRT) noted that fiber network development had “stalled” and highlighted the need to connect remote areas where deployment costs are high rrt.lt. Overall, roughly 77% of all residences have access to some form of fixed broadband network (fiber, cable, or DSL), which means about one-quarter (mostly in rural countryside) still lack a fixed-line internet optionespanadigital.gob.es.

DSL and Copper Lines: Legacy copper telephone lines (xDSL) once formed the core of broadband availability, but these have largely been superseded by fiber. DSL coverage still reaches about 65% of premises rrt.lt, mainly because the incumbent Telia’s telephone network covered many towns and villages. In practice, DSL is now the least used fixed broadband platform – it accounts for only ~14% of fixed subscriptions rrt.lt and is steadily declining. Many urban copper lines have been retired or overbuilt with fiber. In rural areas, some ADSL2+/VDSL services remain, but their speeds (typically up to ~20–50 Mbps) cannot compete with fiber. The government’s strategy is to replace or upgrade copper infrastructure to meet higher speed targets, rather than invest in old DSL.

Cable Broadband: Coaxial cable networks (from cable TV providers like Cgates, Init, Balticum) pass roughly 29% of Lithuanian premises rrt.lt, concentrated in cities and larger towns. Cable internet using DOCSIS technology is an important urban broadband option, often offering 100–500 Mbps plans. Some cable operators have upgraded to DOCSIS 3.1, enabling gigabit download speeds. Cable networks typically do not extend far into rural areas. Their coverage overlaps mainly with fiber in cities; as a result, cable’s share of the broadband market has been stable or shrinking as consumers gradually migrate to fiber ISPs.

Fixed Wireless (FWA): There are also fixed-wireless access networks serving areas without wired infrastructure. As of 2023, about 8% of premises could get a “wireless local loop” fixed internet (often delivered via LTE/4G or radio links) rrt.lt. Operators like Tele2 and Bitė offer 4G/5G home internet routers as an alternative for rural customers. These services can provide tens of Mbps (sometimes 100+ Mbps with 5G) and have become a stopgap solution in villages that fiber has not yet reached. While FWA coverage is growing (up from ~6% to 8% of premises in 2022–2023 rrt.lt), it still covers only a fraction of rural homes. Many rural households thus rely purely on mobile networks for internet (via smartphone tethering or mobile routers).

Urban vs. Rural Coverage: There is a significant divide in fixed network availability. Urban areas enjoy near-comprehensive broadband coverage – virtually 100% of households in cities like Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, etc. have access to high-speed fixed internet (fiber or cable). By contrast, in rural Lithuania, fixed broadband access is limited. Overall fixed coverage in rural areas was only about 69.4% of households as of mid-2023espanadigital.gob.es. Moreover, truly high-speed networks (100 Mbps or above) reach only roughly one-quarter of rural homes (the rest may only have old copper lines or no fixed line at all) europeandatajournalism.eu. This gap means many rural Lithuanians depend on the mobile network or satellite for connectivity. The government’s broadband plan recognizes this disparity and aims to extend fiber backbones and last-mile connections into less populated localities (see Government Initiatives below). Notably, even at the end of the 2010s, only about 1 in 10 rural households had access to VHCN fiber service europeandatajournalism.eu – a figure that has since grown to roughly 23–24% in recent years, but still far behind urban coverage.

Mobile Broadband (4G/5G) Networks

Mobile broadband is one of Lithuania’s success stories, with high coverage and competitive, affordable service. The country rapidly built out 4G LTE networks in the 2010s and has been an early adopter of 5G:

• 4G (LTE): All three mobile operators (Telia, Tele2, Bitė) operate nationwide 4G networks. LTE covers over 99% of Lithuania’s population (and the vast majority of its territory) through a dense network of cell towers. Even many remote villages have at least a basic 4G signal, thanks to LTE deployments in bands like 800 MHz. These networks support typical download speeds of 30–100 Mbps under good conditions. By early 2023, Lithuania had about 3.98 million active mobile connections (SIM cards) – equivalent to 145.7% of the population datareportal.com, indicating many users have multiple SIMs or data plans. This reflects how prevalent mobile data use is in Lithuania. Mobile broadband adoption (people using 3G/4G for internet) rose from 74% of the population in 2018 to ~85% in 2021 en.wikipedia.org, nearly on par with the EU average. For a segment of the population – especially in rural areas – 4G serves as the primary home internet (often via unlimited data SIM offers).
• 5G: Lithuania has moved aggressively on 5G. The first commercial 5G services launched in late 2022 after the completion of spectrum auctions (700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands were awarded in mid-2022) 5gobservatory.eu. Telia Lietuva activated 5G in 2022 and by mid-2023 achieved an extensive rollout – using the 700 MHz band for wide coverage, Telia reported reaching 95% of the population (and about 99% of the country’s territory) with 5G by summer 2023 ericsson.com lightreading.com. This rapid deployment was in partnership with Ericsson, making Lithuania one of the European leaders in 5G coverage. Tele2 and Bitė were only slightly behind: Bitė was the last to launch 5G (in early 2023) globenewswire.com, but all operators are obliged to cover all towns and major transport routes by 2025 under license conditions 5gobservatory.eu. By the end of 2022, Lithuania already had about 90% population coverage with 5G (far above the EU average of ~81%) en.wikipedia.org, and this has grown further in 2023–2024. In practical terms, 5G users in cities like Vilnius or Kaunas can get very fast wireless broadband – often hundreds of Mbps on downloads. Even in rural areas, 700 MHz 5G signals now provide improved speeds and capacity compared to 4G. The 5G rollout is expected to support not just consumer internet, but also IoT and industrial connectivity, aligning with EU’s “Gigabit society” goals. It’s worth noting that mobile data prices in Lithuania are relatively low by EU standards, which has encouraged heavy usage; unlimited or high-cap data plans (4G/5G) are commonly available at reasonable cost, making mobile broadband a competitive alternative to fixed lines.

Satellite Internet

Given the gaps in terrestrial networks in some rural locales, satellite internet has emerged as a complementary option. In December 2021, SpaceX’s Starlink service officially launched in Lithuania rrt.lt. The RRT facilitated the necessary frequency permits and even noted that a Starlink ground station was to be installed in Lithuania in 2022 to improve service quality in the region rrt.lt. Starlink’s low-earth-orbit satellite constellation now provides countrywide coverage – effectively 100% of Lithuania’s territory has satellite broadband availability, regardless of terrain or remoteness. Initially, Lithuanian Starlink users were seeing download speeds around 100–150 Mbps rrt.lt, and performance has generally improved as more satellites were added (speeds up to ~200 Mbps are possible). Latency on Starlink (~20–40 ms) is vastly better than on legacy geostationary satellites, making it usable for video calls, VPNs, and other real-time applications.

Despite its technical merits, satellite internet adoption remains very limited in Lithuania. The number of Starlink (or other satellite) subscribers is extremely small – on the order of only a few hundred at most. For example, the RRT reported essentially zero (0.0 thousand) subscribers on satellite in 2023, compared to ~798 thousand on fixed networks rrt.lt. The minimal uptake is largely because terrestrial options (fiber or mobile LTE/5G) cover most of the population with good service at lower cost. Satellite is generally viewed as a last resort for the hardest-to-reach rural homesteads. Those who do use Starlink are likely in remote farm areas or places where even mobile signals are weak.

In terms of satellite providers, Starlink is the primary option as of 2025. Competing satellite broadband services (Viasat, HughesNet, etc.) do not have a significant presence, and the older geostationary offerings are technologically inferior (lower speeds ~10–30 Mbps and high latency >600 ms). Starlink’s pricing in Lithuania has become more affordable over time. As of 2025, a standard Starlink residential plan costs about €50 per month (down from ~€99 at launch) starlinkinsider.com, plus a one-time equipment cost of roughly €450 for the dish and router kit starlinkinsider.com. This price point, while reasonable for remote businesses or high-income users, is still expensive compared to mainstream fiber or mobile plans in Lithuania. Consequently, only a niche group has adopted satellite internet – typically those with no viable alternative. The government does see satellite as a way to complement broadband coverage in rural areas (especially for the final few percent of households that are very costly to wire). But in practice, improving terrestrial networks remains the priority, with satellite filling only the most challenging coverage gaps.

Historical Trends in Internet Development

Lithuania’s internet infrastructure has advanced rapidly since the 1990s, transforming from a lagging post-Soviet telecom system to a modern digital society. A few key phases mark this development:

• Early Broadband Era (2000s): Dial-up internet gave way to broadband in the early 2000s. The fixed-line telecom sector initially faced challenges – the copper telephone network was not as pervasive or modern as in Western Europe, which meant DSL broadband spread relatively slowly outside cities. By the mid-2000s, DSL and cable internet were available in major urban areas, but many rural communities remained unconnected. The “poor condition of the fixed-line sector” at that time led to a mobile boom, as cellular operators filled the gap goantifraud.com. Mobile 2G networks (and later 3G UMTS around 2006) became widely used for voice and some data, with people relying on mobile due to lack of landline infrastructure.
• National Broadband Initiatives (2005–2015): Recognizing the digital divide, Lithuania invested heavily in broadband infrastructure, aided by EU structural funds. A flagship effort was the RAIN (Rural Area Information Network) project. RAIN-1 (2005–2008) built about 3,357 km of fiber-optic backbone lines, connecting 467 rural town centers (elderates) across 51 municipalities intt.tn. It was followed by RAIN-2 (2009–2013), which extended the network with an additional ~4,915 km of fiber and hundreds more connection nodes intt.tn. These backbone networks, managed as open-access wholesale infrastructure, allowed any ISP to lease fiber capacity to serve local customers. The RAIN projects were transformational – by 2014, broadband coverage (of at least basic 30 Mbps service) had reached about 98% of Lithuanian households, up from much lower levels pre-RAIN baltic-review.com. Essentially, even the countryside now had fiber running through or nearby the localities, drastically improving backhaul and enabling last-mile expansion. In parallel, the incumbent Telia (formerly Teo) began major FTTH deployments around 2007 intt.tn, rolling fiber to apartment buildings and neighborhoods, especially in cities. Alternative providers (including utility companies and new startups) also built fiber in urban areas. By the early 2010s, Lithuania surged to the top ranks of Europe for FTTH penetration – a significant share of households subscribed to fiber connections, rivaling leading countries like Sweden. For example, in 2011 Lithuania was often cited among the leaders in fiber subscribers per capita. This leapfrogging was facilitated by the fact that Lithuania could deploy fiber in many areas rather than upgrading decades-old DSL (in effect, skipping directly to fiber in the broadband evolution). Between 2014 and 2019 alone, fixed broadband penetration (subscriptions per population) increased by about 9.6 percentage points, outpacing the EU average growth in that period 2014.esinvesticijos.lt.
• Growth of Mobile Broadband: The late 2000s and 2010s also saw mobile internet take off with 3G and especially 4G. Lithuania was quick to allocate spectrum and encourage competition among mobile operators. By 2015, 4G LTE covered most of the country, and smartphone usage exploded. Mobile data traffic climbed steeply each year (fueled by video streaming, social media, etc.), and by the end of the 2010s, many Lithuanians were consuming dozens of gigabytes of mobile data per month on unlimited or high-cap plans. Mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 people eventually exceeded the EU average, and mobile became a true substitute for fixed broadband for some users.
• Recent Developments (2020s): In the 2020s, Lithuania’s focus has shifted to ultra-fast connectivity. The government approved a National Broadband Plan in 2021 targeting universal ≥100 Mbps availability by 2027 en.wikipedia.org. Projects have been launched to deploy fiber to remaining underserved areas (often with EU Recovery and Resilience Facility funds). For instance, an ERDF-funded project (2018–2023) installed 1,235 km of new fiber and built telecom towers to help extend Next Generation Access in rural zones en.wikipedia.org. Another ongoing project (with €49 million from the RRF) aims to bring gigabit broadband to around 5,000 priority sites (business hubs, public institutions, municipalities) as “digitally sensitive users” en.wikipedia.org. On the mobile side, the period 2021–2023 saw the introduction of 5G and the refarming of frequencies (e.g. the 700 MHz band was cleared of TV broadcasts for 5G use broadbandtvnews.com). By 2023, Lithuania’s 5G rollout pace led most of Europe in geographic coverage ericsson.com. This reflects a continued national priority on connectivity.

In terms of digital adoption, Lithuania’s population has eagerly embraced the internet. Individual internet usage reached ~87% in 2022 en.wikipedia.org, just shy of the EU average, and basic digital skills levels are improving among the workforce. The vast majority of young and middle-aged Lithuanians are online, and services like e-banking, e-government, and e-commerce are well established. The country ranks highly (10th in the EU) in digital public services en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org, indicating that the government’s push for online services has been effective. One lingering issue is the older or more rural demographic that remains offline (the ~11% of the population not using internet as of 2023 datareportal.com). Efforts by libraries, community centers, and government programs continue in order to increase digital inclusion for those groups. Overall, Lithuania’s trajectory over the past two decades is one of rapid modernization – from minimal internet availability in the 1990s, the country now boasts widespread broadband and ranks among leaders in certain metrics like fiber coverage and 5G.

Internet Speeds and Service Pricing

Fixed Broadband Speeds: Thanks to extensive fiber deployment, Lithuania enjoys high fixed broadband speeds. The majority of fixed broadband customers have 100 Mbps or faster service. In 2023, about 68.8% of all fixed subscribers were on plans between 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps, and an additional ~2.6% were on gigabit-plus plans rrt.lt. This means over 70% of users had at least 100 Mbps. Only a small minority (around 11% of subscribers) were on sub-30 Mbps plans rrt.lt, likely legacy DSL users. The median fixed broadband speed in Lithuania was approximately 89 Mbps download as of January 2023 datareportal.com, which is a solid figure (for comparison, that is on par with or slightly above the global average). Many urban fiber users can get actual speeds in the hundreds of Mbps or even 1 Gbps symmetric, while rural DSL users experience much lower speeds, bringing down the median. Overall, Lithuania’s fixed speeds place it mid-range among EU countries – not the absolute fastest, but respectable. By early 2025, ongoing upgrades likely pushed the median fixed speed into the 100+ Mbps range.

Mobile Broadband Speeds: Mobile internet performance in Lithuania is strong and improving rapidly with 5G. In early 2023, the median mobile download speed (across 4G and nascent 5G usage) was about 58.3 Mbps datareportal.com. Within just two years, 5G expansion helped roughly double mobile speeds – median mobile downloads were around 118 Mbps by 2025 en.wikipedia.org. This places Lithuania’s mobile broadband among the faster in Europe (in fact, Lithuania ranks in the top 30 countries globally for mobile speeds as of 2025). Users in 5G-covered cities often enjoy 150–300 Mbps on their smartphones, while those on 4G in rural areas might see 20–50 Mbps. It’s also notable that unlimited mobile data plans are popular, so many users regularly consume large amounts of data on these high-speed networks without throttling.

Service Pricing: Internet service in Lithuania is generally affordable relative to income and compared to Western Europe. Fixed broadband prices are among the lowest in the EU. For example, Telia’s fiber plans (as of a few years ago) ranged around: 100 Mbps for ~€10–12 per month, 300 Mbps for ~€15–16, and 1 Gbps for ~€20–23 goantifraud.com. Even accounting for slight price increases or inflation, gigabit home fiber can be obtained for on the order of €20–30 per month in 2025, especially in bundled packages. Other providers’ prices are in a similar range, keeping the market competitive. The low cost is partly due to facilities-based competition in cities (Telia vs. Cgates vs. others) and the relatively low cost of deploying fiber to apartment blocks (amortized over many subscribers).

DSL and cable plans, where offered, tend to be priced similarly or a bit lower than fiber for equivalent speeds. However, given that fiber has become so widespread and inexpensive, most urban consumers choose fiber if available. In rural areas, if one is limited to DSL, the price might still be €10–€15 for a basic package (though performance is lower). Some rural residents opt for 4G/5G fixed wireless packages – these often cost on the order of €20–€30 per month for an unlimited data home router plan. A Reddit user from rural Lithuania, for instance, noted paying about €37 per month for a 5G home broadband hub with near-1 Gbps speeds (at ~20 km outside a city) topup.lt. Mobile operators frequently market these wireless home internet plans as a substitute where fiber hasn’t reached, and at comparable price points.

Mobile data pricing in general is very consumer-friendly in Lithuania. Unlimited smartphone data plans can be found for roughly €20/month (varies by operator and bundled services). This has led to Lithuania having one of the highest mobile data usage per capita in the region, as cost is not a major barrier to heavy use. Prepaid plans with generous data are also cheap, which benefits tourists or those with lower incomes.

Satellite internet pricing, as mentioned earlier, is much higher. Starlink’s ~€50/month plus €450 hardware is a steep entry point by local standards starlinkinsider.com starlinkinsider.com. Traditional satellite services (if any are still used) also tended to cost €50+ for very limited data caps, making them unattractive except where absolutely necessary.

In summary, Lithuanian consumers enjoy high speed-to-price value in broadband. A household in Vilnius can get 300 Mbps fiber and a mobile plan for a combined cost that might be less than what some Western Europeans pay just for internet. This affordability has contributed to the high adoption rates and the trend of users maintaining multiple connections (e.g., a fixed line at home and an unlimited mobile plan for on the go).

Government Initiatives and Broadband Policy

The Lithuanian government, along with EU support, has been proactive in expanding and upgrading internet access. Key initiatives and policies include:

• National Broadband Plans: In October 2021, the government approved a comprehensive Plan for the Development of High-Speed Broadband 2021–2027. This ultra-fast broadband plan aims to ensure at least 100 Mbps internet access for all households and public institutions across both urban and rural Lithuania by 2027 en.wikipedia.org. It aligns with EU Digital Decade targets. The plan sets interim goals as well – for example, striving for 95% of households to have access to 100 Mbps by 2025 en.wikipedia.org. To achieve this, about €75 million was earmarked for building new communication towers and fiber lines in underserved areas en.wikipedia.org. There is also an emphasis on guaranteeing uninterrupted 5G along major transport corridors (highways, rail routes) by 2025 en.wikipedia.org. Progress under this plan is monitored via the EU’s Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) reporting.
• EU-Funded Rural Broadband Projects: As discussed, the RAIN projects were fundamental government-led (and EU-funded) initiatives. RAIN provided the middle-mile fiber infrastructure which private operators can leverage to deliver last-mile service in rural areas. Following RAIN-2’s completion, Lithuania launched PRIP (Projects for Rural Internet Access Improvement) around 2014–2018. The PRIP project specifically targeted rural activity centers – places like farmsteads offering rural tourism, agricultural facilities, local community centers, etc. PRIP connected 443 such rural sites with ~486 km of new fiber optics digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. It effectively extended the RAIN network deeper into the countryside. During PRIP’s rollout, demand for connections was so high (over 1500 connection requests) that a PRIP-2 expansion was initiated even before the first phase finished digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. PRIP was notable for using the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development for 90% of its €5.9 million budget digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu, exemplifying how EU cohesion funds were channeled into broadband. By 2019, PRIP and RAIN combined had brought fiber to many rural municipalities – the project was even a finalist in the 2016 European Broadband Awards for its success digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. These efforts have significantly raised rural broadband coverage from the very low levels of the early 2000s, though as noted, the last-mile challenge to individual farms remains in some cases.
• Telecom Regulation and Competition: The Communications Regulatory Authority (RRT) oversees the sector with an eye to promoting competition and investment. Lithuania implemented EU telecom directives into national law, ensuring, for instance, that the incumbent’s infrastructure can be accessed by competitors (local loop unbundling, wholesale fiber leasing, etc.). This regulatory environment helped smaller ISPs to spring up and use RAIN or Telia’s ducts/fibers to serve customers, increasing competition. The regulator has also conducted spectrum auctions (like for 5G frequencies in 2022) in a fair manner and has been active in consumer protection (e.g., monitoring service quality, pricing transparency). In recent years, there were discussions about mandating SIM card registration to enhance security (Lithuania considered requiring prepaid SIM users to register to combat fraud and crime) telecompaper.com, reflecting a trend in many EU countries, though such measures must balance privacy concerns.
• Public Wi-Fi and Access Initiatives: The government and municipalities have also supported programs for public internet access. Lithuania was among the participants in the EU’s WiFi4EU program, which funded free Wi-Fi hotspots in many towns. Public libraries and community centers throughout Lithuania offer internet access and training, supported by initiatives for digital literacy. These efforts tie into the Information Society Development Programme (also known as “Digital Lithuania”), which is a broader policy framework aiming to increase internet use, e-services, and digital skills across the population en.wikipedia.org.
• Cybersecurity and Resilience: With greater connectivity comes a focus on security. Lithuania has established a National Cyber Security Centre and has been vocal about securing networks (for instance, Lithuania was one of the countries that moved to restrict high-risk vendors in critical 5G infrastructure). Ensuring resilience of internet infrastructure – given geopolitical tensions in the region – is a part of government policy, though details are often not public. However, the fact that Lithuania hosts a Starlink ground station and welcomes diverse international backbone connections (via Latvia, Poland, undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, etc.) indicates an understanding of building redundant, robust internet connectivity for the nation.
• Affordability and Inclusion: While prices are already low, the government keeps an eye on affordability. There have been proposals (in line with EU goals) to subsidize broadband for low-income or remote users, though the main approach so far has been to rely on market competition to keep prices low. Lithuania’s universal service obligations in telecom include ensuring basic telephony is available everywhere; for broadband, the strategy has been infrastructure expansion rather than price controls. As of 2023, about 88.6% of households have internet access at home rrt.lt, and the aim is to close the gap for the remaining ~11%. This gap often overlaps with older, rural populations, so initiatives intersect with broader social policies (such as improving rural livelihoods and education).

In summary, government policy has been instrumental in Lithuania’s internet development – from laying rural fiber and setting ambitious coverage targets, to fostering a competitive mobile market and pushing new tech like 5G. Continuous monitoring (through RRT and international benchmarks) and leveraging EU funds have been key tools. The collaborative approach (publicly funded backbones + private ISP last-mile) in Lithuania is often cited as a best practice for broadband expansion in less dense areas.

Lithuania vs. Other EU Countries

In many respects, Lithuania’s internet infrastructure and performance stack up well against European Union peers, though there are areas where it lags. The table below summarizes a few key connectivity indicators for Lithuania compared to EU averages:

Table: Key Connectivity Indicators – Lithuania vs. EU (circa 2022–2024)

From the above and other data:

• Fiber Leadership: Lithuania stands out in fiber – its FTTP coverage of ~78% is one of the highest in Europe en.wikipedia.org (comparable to countries like Spain or Sweden). This is a legacy of early fiber deployment; many EU countries (including large ones like Germany or the UK) have much lower fiber coverage. In terms of fiber subscription penetration, Lithuania has also been among Europe’s leaders historically. This means Lithuanian consumers have greater access to future-proof fiber connectivity than most Europeans.
• Mobile 5G and 4G: Lithuania excelled in 5G rollout speed. By 2023, it likely leads the EU in geographic 5G coverage (helped by its flat terrain and use of low-band spectrum). Its 5G population coverage (90% in 2022) already surpassed the EU’s 2030 goal of full coverage on track en.wikipedia.org. 4G coverage and usage in Lithuania are also on par with the best in Europe. Mobile data prices in the Baltic region (Lithuania included) are among the cheapest in the EU, which is a contrast to some Western European countries where mobile data can be pricier – this contributes to higher mobile data consumption in Lithuania.
• Overall Connectivity Ranking: Despite these strengths, Lithuania’s overall DESI connectivity ranking was 23rd out of 27 in 2022 en.wikipedia.org. The lower ranking is mainly due to the rural shortfalls and slightly below-average uptake of the fastest services. For instance, fixed broadband overall coverage (especially in rural areas) and the share of households actually subscribing to 100+ Mbps, while improving, were still a bit behind leading EU nations. The digital divide internally drags the average – urban Lithuania scores very high, but rural areas bring the averages down. In contrast, some smaller EU countries (like Malta or Luxembourg) or those with uniformly distributed population have managed near-universal fast coverage. Lithuania’s challenge remains to lift its rural connectivity closer to urban levels.
• Internet Speed Comparisons: In absolute terms, Lithuania’s internet speeds (both fixed and mobile) are quite competitive. According to Ookla’s Global Index, Lithuania’s fixed broadband speeds are similar to those in neighboring Poland and Latvia, but behind the fastest EU countries like Spain, Sweden, or France (which benefit from either extensive fiber or top-notch cable networks). On mobile speeds, Lithuania with widespread 5G now likely exceeds the EU average and may outperform some larger countries’ mobile networks. The continuing 5G enhancements could push Lithuania into the top tier in Europe for mobile connectivity experience.
• Pricing and Value: Compared to most EU countries, Lithuania offers better value in broadband. For example, a 1 Gbps fiber plan in Lithuania for ~€20 is dramatically cheaper than a comparable plan in Germany or the UK, which might cost €50–€80 if available. Mobile plans with unlimited data for €20 are far cheaper than in many Western EU markets. This affordability is a competitive advantage and is reflected in Lithuanians’ high satisfaction and usage levels. It also means that economic barriers to getting online are lower, aiding the country’s digital inclusion.
• Regional Context: Within the Baltics, Lithuania is often neck-and-neck with Estonia and Latvia on digital indicators. Estonia (known for its IT sector) has somewhat lower fiber coverage but similar internet usage rates; Latvia similarly has high fiber availability in Riga but struggles in rural areas. All three have cheap and fast mobile internet. Compared to the EU’s big economies, the Baltics have smaller populations which can make infrastructure rollout easier in some respects, but lower population density in rural zones makes 100% coverage a challenge. Lithuania’s strategies (like RAIN) have been observed by other countries as a model to emulate for rural broadband expansion.

In conclusion, Lithuania’s internet access landscape is characterized by excellent high-end infrastructure in urban areas, ambitious mobile network deployment, and a continued push to close the remaining gaps. The country outperforms many EU peers in fiber and 5G, while it underperforms in connecting its most remote communities. With ongoing efforts and EU support, Lithuania is on track to meet or exceed Europe’s 2025–2030 connectivity targets (such as ubiquitous 100 Mbps and significant gigabit coverage) sumin.lrv.lt. The combination of strong government initiative, active competition among ISPs, and an engaged user base has positioned Lithuania as a fast-moving digital nation, albeit one still working to ensure that no corner – no matter how rural – is left offline.

Sources:

1. Communications Regulatory Authority of LT (RRT), Lithuanian Communications Sector 2023 – market data on ISPs, usage, and infrastructure rrt.lt rrt.lt rrt.lt.
2. RRT report 2023 – fixed broadband subscriber breakdown by technology and speed tiers rrt.lt rrt.lt.
3. RRT report 2023 – network coverage statistics (fiber 61.1% premises, etc.) rrt.lt.
4. European Commission DESI 2022 – Lithuania country profile (connectivity indicators) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org.
5. DataReportal, “Digital 2023: Lithuania” – user statistics and Ookla speed benchmarks datareportal.com.
6. SpaceX Starlink in Lithuania – RRT news (Dec 2021) on launch and expected speeds rrt.lt; StarlinkInsider (2025) on current pricing starlinkinsider.com starlinkinsider.com.
7. EU Broadband coverage reports 2022–2023 – fixed coverage national vs ruralespanadigital.gob.es and historical notes on rural VHCN europeandatajournalism.eu.
8. EU BCO Network interview (2019) – PRIP rural broadband project results digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu.
9. GoAntiFraud blog (2019) – overview of Lithuanian internet tariffs and market status goantifraud.com goantifraud.com.
10. News and press releases – 5G rollout (Tele2/Telia press via Ericsson, 2023) ericsson.com and Telecompaper summary of Lithuania’s connectivity vs EU telecompaper.com.

Footnotes

1. Note: EU rural coverage average varies by source; by 2023 about 81% of EU rural households had basic broadband and ~50% had VHCN coverage. Lithuania’s rural fixed coverage (~69%) is below the EU average, reflecting its scattered farm settlements. ↩
2. EU median mobile speeds are not published centrally, but most Western EU countries had 4G median 40–60 Mbps in 2022. Lithuania’s 58 Mbps (now >100 Mbps with 5G) is on the higher end in Europe. ↩