Analytics, Financial Services, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Telecomunications

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 19.04.2024, 08:01

Latvia still one of Europe's "leaders" in pirated content availability

BC, Riga, 25.11.2016.Print version
Latvia is still one of the "leaders" in Europe in terms of availability of pirated content, and it is a long way to go until significant improvements are made, telecommunications operator Lattelecom Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs Toms Meisitis told LETA.

He pointed out that honest business activity is first of all in the interest of clients that use legal content and services, appreciate their consumer rights, data protection rights, TV content supervision, which is especially important, for example, to families with children. "It's important to provide fast and quality customer service. Clients appreciate services that provide increasingly greater comfort," acknowledged the expert.


"For years we have been bringing public administration and regulators' attention to the insufficient measures against shadow economy in general, and tirelessly talking about illegal activities in electronic communications and media. For a long time, we have been trying to show that problems in the industry concern interests of broader society, not just the respective market players," continued Meisitis.


"There are many electronic communication operators and media in Latvia, but unfortunately we cannot say for sure that they all play by the rules - pay taxes and fees, license payments, obey the law. Problems are still being observed in audiovisual communications piracy, construction of electronic communication networks, and others," emphasized Lattelecom representative.


Meisitis hopes that the responsible institutions will continue to focus their attention and resources on solving these problems. "We cannot say with full certainty that the regulators, supervisory and law enforcement authorities are doing everything they can and what is in their competence to keep illegal business practices from spreading in the industry," added the expert.


Despite that, Meisitis expressed satisfaction that certain progress could be seen in the fight against illegal distribution of audiovisual content. "We have a high opinion of work done by the parliament and government, including recent amendments strengthening the National Electronic Mass Media Council's competence, and determination to strengthen law enforcement agencies' capacity," said Meisitis.


Lattelecom last year's turnover was EUR 163.398 mln and profit EUR 30.5 mln. 51% of the company's shares belong to Latvian Privatization Agency, but 49% to the Danish-registered company Tilts Communications.






Search site