BCO-SF
In this video interview, Mr. Gytis Liaugminas, Director of Plaiajuostis internetas, explains that the demand for high-speed broadband connectivity is so high in Lithuanias rural areas that it was one of the challenges of the project, with over 1500 applications made for connections. In order to meet this demand, a second phase and further expansion of the network, PRIP-2, was already underway during the roll-out of this project.
This video is part of a series of interviews on broadband roll-out in Europe, produced for the European Network of Broadband Competence Offices (BCO Network).
The project succeeded in connecting 443 rural activity centres and agricultural objects via 486 km of fibre optic cable. The PRIP network is an extension of Lithuanias previous two national broadband networks, RAIN and RAIN-2, and, at the time of interview, already hosted 14 operators and ran at 85% capacity.
Good cooperation with national and local institutions, municipalities and rural communities was key to the projects success.
PRIP was a finalist in the 2016 European Broadband Awards and is featured in the European Commissions broadband good practices directory.
For more information, visit the projects website, and consult the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) country information for Lithuania.
Find out more
- European Commission vision and policy relating to broadband
- EU funding for broadband
- Technical assistance for broadband
- The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
- The European Network for Rural Development (ENRD)
- The European Network of Broadband Competence Offices, through which Member States and regions exchange good practices and build their capacity to bring high-speed broadband to all citizens, with a particular focus on rural and remote areas
- Video series on broadband in the EU: interviews on good practices in broadband projects, EU funding and policy, and more
- The European Broadband Awards