Riga, April 17 (LETA) - Following a pilot project in Salaspils, mobile operator Bite Latvija will gradually switch off the 3G network throughout Latvia from June this year, the company informed LETA.

Aleksandrs Belajevs, the head of radio network department at Bite Latvija, said that the results of the Salaspils pilot project will enable the company to develop a timetable for 3G switch-off across Latvia.

"The switch-off process is planned to start in June this year and continue until the middle of next year. The company will ensure that the transition will be smooth, minimizing any inconvenience to customers, while identifying residential and business customers who may be affected," Belajevs noted.

The company mentioned that on April 9, Bite Latvija carried out a pilot project in Salaspils to gradually switch off the 3G network, ensuring that the 3G switch-off has minimal impact on the quality of service.

Belajevs explains that the 3G shutdown is a logical step in the evolution of mobile communications, freeing up resources for newer and more efficient technologies.

"Given that 4G and 5G networks are mainly used for modern data transmission and communication, 3G technology is naturally becoming obsolete, and Bite Latvija's data also shows that less than 1 percent of all the company's customers currently use 3G networks for data transmission services," he says.

Belajevs also pointed out that 4G and 5G networks offer faster download and upload speeds, enabling high-quality video viewing, streaming of video content and other services without interruptions. There are also other benefits of newer technologies, including better call quality, less delay and higher network capacity.

The company reminds that the 3G network switch-off will only affect users with older mobile devices or outdated SIM cards, so Bite Latvija urges customers to make sure their devices and SIM cards meet the requirements of 4G and 5G networks.

As reported, in 2023 Bite Latvija had a turnover of EUR 163.668 million, which is 9.2 percent more than a year earlier, while the company's profit increased by 50 percent and amounted to EUR 33.376 million.

Bite Latvija was registered in 2005 and has a share capital of EUR 99,085,286. Bite Latvija is wholly owned by Bite Lietuva, a Lithuanian company and a subsidiary of Providence Equity Partners, an international asset management company.