Telia Lietuva: Decoupling Critical Baltic Networks from Non-Allied Suppliers

Introduction: Telia’s Baltic operations provide critical secure connectivity across Eastern Europe, positioning the company as a key enabler of European strategic autonomy. In Lithuania (and historically Latvia), Telia has rebuilt its networks around European suppliers, replacing all Chinese equipment with Ericsson and Nokia hardware .

Its fiber-optic and 5G infrastructure underpins national and NATO communications – notably, Telia created an “Internet fortress” at the 2023 NATO summit in Lithuania to ensure continuous secure links . Similarly, Telia launched a dedicated private 5G network at Klaipėda port to bolster secure industrial automation .

This analysis answers: How has Telia Lietuva rebuilt its Baltic networks around European suppliers (Ericsson, Nokia), replacing all Chinese equipment? How do Telia's fibre-optic and 5G infrastructure (the NATO-summit Internet fortress, the Klaipeda port private 5G network) support national and NATO communications? What is Telia's strategic role in decoupling critical Baltic networks from non-allied suppliers, and what partnerships enable it? What capability gaps and strategic indicators define Telia's contribution to European secure connectivity?