RETN boosts Lithuanian network with high-capacity ring upgrade
RETN has completed an upgrade of its Lithuanian network ring, increasing high-capacity connectivity between the cities of Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys.
The upgrade extends and enhances regional connectivity within Lithuania, and maintains Vilnius and Kaunas as central points on RETN's international backbone that links the Baltic states with several of Europe's major urban hubs.
Regional infrastructure
RETN worked in partnership with fibre provider Skaidula for this project, responding to increased demand from enterprise and carrier customers for higher bandwidth regional links. As part of the upgrade, RETN has deployed 100G DWDM transponders along the network's primary regional routes. These new deployments complement the company's existing Nx100G and Nx400G services, which are already in place in Vilnius and Kaunas.
The upgraded network segments are now functioning with 500G of installed capacity. This new infrastructure is designed for scalability, with the ability to expand up to 1.2 Tbps and beyond as traffic requirements increase.
Baltic gateway
The upgraded ring enables better access to the wider Baltic region, offering direct routes to border points with both Latvia and Poland. Customers can also gain onward international connectivity to key European cities such as Warsaw, Stockholm, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, establishing Lithuania's position as a digital gateway in the region.
Commenting on the development, Timur Pertenava, Commercial Director, Nordic & Baltic at RETN, stated:
"As Lithuania continues to grow as a technology powerhouse, RETN is committed to providing fast, secure and future-proof connectivity to meet the demands of the region's rapidly evolving IT sector. Our upgraded infrastructure is designed to support the growing needs of international carriers, cloud providers and the thriving local unicorn ecosystem."
This infrastructure development is one element of a wider programme to expand RETN's IP and DWDM backbone across the region, designed to meet the rising traffic volumes being generated by Lithuania's expanding IT and data hosting sectors.
Technical developments
With the introduction of 100G DWDM transponders and the expansion of backbone capacity, customers can benefit from increased network reliability, lower latency, and more options for routing high-bandwidth applications, including data hosting, cloud services, and mission-critical business connectivity.
The design of the network ring supports future growth, as RETN noted it is prepared to scale bandwidth further if the volume from regional users and international partners increases. The new network segments are expected to attract additional traffic from international carriers and service providers looking to strengthen their presence in the Baltic region.
Market context
Lithuania has increased its investment in digital infrastructure in recent years, seeking to reinforce its position as a hub for technology companies and international digital services. The government and private sector continue to prioritise projects that improve the country's competitiveness and digital resilience, both domestically and for cross-border trade and communications.
RETN's latest network expansion aligns with broader European and Baltic trends, which seek more regional data exchange and secure, high-capacity connections to global internet centres. Recent upgrades by network operators in the region reflect growing demand from cloud providers, application hosts, and large-scale enterprise customers.
The upgraded Lithuanian network ring is now operational and supporting an increased number of customers across Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys. The company will continue to monitor demand to plan for further capacity upgrades as necessary.
