Illegal data transmission costs Latvia several dozen million euros every year, said Tet LLC board chairman Uldis Tatarčuks in an interview to LETA.
This is the amount the country loses in taxes and dividends from the companies it owns in the sector, and this negatively affects the country’s overall economy, said Tatarčuks.
At the same time, Tet believes nothing is done to remove illegal networks.
“We can go out on any street in Riga and look up – we will see the situation for what it is. This damages both the city’s look and is equal to having someone sell illegal alcohol and cigarettes on every corner of every street,” said Tatarčuks.
He stressed the illegal networks cause damages for the economy and they represent a threat for the security of the overall infrastructure because “no one knows where the cables are running from, what they are connected to and whether they could broadcast the speech from the Latvian president on hour X or something else entirely”.
According to Tet, the state should keep this strategic sector under its control.
Although the topic of illegally installed cables has been in discussion for years, Tet has yet to see any improvements to this situation. Tatarčuks said “now is the time for institutions to start acting, because there is a legislative base for it”.
Tatarčuks said there needs to be competition, but at the same time the state needs to ensure it is fair.
“We cannot have Tet and LMT come up with projects, coordinate work, install road signs, restore the pavement, the loan and so on, but further down the road all regulations are breached, including the rights of the owners of houses there,” says Tet board chairman.
According to him, Riga City Council and other state institutions lack the understanding of the negative effect uncontrolled networks have on overall national security.
As of 2005 no hanging cables are allowed in Riga’s historic centre. However, the actual situation is different. The situation is the same in Pļavnieki, Purvciems, Teika and territories outside Riga.
“Another aspect we should mention and what we see in Ukraine – underground infrastructure is more stable, much more secure and more resilient,” admits Tatarčuks.
Last year, Tet Group operated with turnover of EUR 292 million, which is 10.6% less when compared to 2022. The group’s profits reached EUR 17.8 million.
51% of shares of Tet are owned by state-owned Possessor. Telia Company subsidiary Tilts Communications owns 49% of shares of Tet.
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