Unreliable providers will be eliminated from Lithuania's communication market – minister

VILNIUS – As Lithuania gears up for the introduction of the 5G mobile network, proposals have been made to eliminate unreliable producers and provider from Lithuania's electronic communication market, National Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas says.

Also, the Communications Regulatory Authority should be given more powers to evaluate such Lithuanian or foreign companies or deals, he said.

"Unreliable producers and providers should not participate in electronic communication activity in Lithuania, especially in the introduction o 5G infrastructure," the minister told a press conference at the parliament on Monday.

In his words, amendments will be put before the Seimas soon and they will require that the CRA turns to the special government commission to evaluate companies' compliance with national security requirements.

"We will seek to ensure that the allocation and use of radio communications meets national security interests. The CRA will have the duty to turn the government commission vetting deals of strategic companies and ask for evaluation when radio frequencies will be allocated, when producers and provider will be replaced, or upon receipt of information allegedly unreliable producers or providers are involved," Anusauskas said.

In his words, producers or providers that do not meet national security interests should be replaced by the end of December, 2025.

Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, says it's a favorable international context right now for Lithuania to set evaluation criteria for 5G providers and technology producers as the European Commission allowed all EU member states last year to take measures to ensure 5G security.