RIGA, July 15 (LETA) - Information and communication technology service provider Bite Latvija will disable the 3G network in Aizkraukle, Jekabpils, Kuldiga and Ventspils regions, as well as in Ventspils, overnight tonight, the company told LETA.

The disconnection will take place at 2 am.

In order to ensure a smooth transition and reduce any inconvenience, Bite Latvija has informed customers who may be affected by this process - they have received both text messages and telephone notifications with detailed information about the upcoming changes.

Aleksandrs Belajevs, Head of Radio Network Department at Bite Latvija, said that in April this year Bite Latvija implemented a pilot project in Salaspils, while at the end of June the company switched off the 3G network in parts of Zemgale. The results show that the transition process is going smoothly and without major disruptions.

He mentions that the company is continuing the 3G network switch-off in Vidzeme and Kurzeme, and the other regions of Latvia will be disconnected in the coming months. The 3G network in Riga is expected to be switched off at the beginning of next year, while the entire country will be completely disconnected by spring 2026.

He points out that 3G technology is outdated and no longer meets today's data transmission requirements, so the decision to switch it off is based on both technical and user experience improvements. Other Latvian operators have also abandoned 3G networks, focusing on 4G and 5G development.

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 The 3G network switch-off will only affect users with older mobile devices or outdated SIM cards.

As reported, Bite Latvija last year posted a turnover of EUR 183.75 million, which is 12.5 percent more than in 2023, while the company's profit grew by 1 percent and amounted to EUR 33.712 million.

Bite Latvija was registered in 2005 and has a share capital of EUR 44 million. Bite Latvija is wholly owned by the Lithuanian Bite group.