Via Baltica, the trans-European transport corridor connecting Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, is not only a lifeline for trade and commerce in the Baltic states but is now also on the verge of becoming a critical artery for digital transformation.
The introduction of 5G infrastructure along this route and the adjacent Rail Baltica corridor represents a leap forward in connectivity, promising to transform transport, automation, and communication systems in the region.
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Baltic States Advance 5G Corridors for Mobility
5G Corridors ensure uninterrupted 5G connectivity for vehicles, even when crossing international borders. These corridors enable autonomous driving across significant roadways, railways, and maritime routes. So far, 12 “digital cross-border corridors” have been created to facilitate the real-time testing of 5G technology for Cooperative Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM).
With the rapid advancement of 5G, the Baltic states, particularly Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Estonia, have committed to ensuring that these significant transport routes become digital highways. Their participation in the 5G Cross-Border Transport Corridors for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) project is a testament to this dedication. This initiative focuses on physical infrastructure and enhancing digital services that will redefine mobility, logistics, and daily interactions for millions of people.
Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) is regarded as a flagship use case for 5G deployment along European transport corridors, and aims to build comprehensive ecosystems around vehicles that go beyond the safety services outlined in the Cooperative-Intelligent Transport System (C-ITS) roadmap of Europe. These initiatives align with the policy goals set in the European 5G and Mobility strategies, which aim to facilitate widespread 5G coverage along pan-European corridors by 2025. The goal is to support a wide range of services, including connected and automated mobility, as part of Europe’s vision for the future of transportation.
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Background and Project Initiation
The project was officially registered in 2020 under the auspices of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), and involves regional cooperation between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Sea nations to bolster digital, energy, and transport infrastructure. Lithuania, the country that submitted the project, has led this transformative endeavor, with Latvia, Poland, and Estonia actively participating.
The overarching goal is to ensure ubiquitous 5G connectivity along the Via Baltica and Rail Baltica corridors. This includes building all the necessary infrastructure—such as mobile towers, fiber optic cables, transmission ducts, and power grids—customized for 5G technology. This development will lay the foundation for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM), a significant leap forward in autonomous driving, intelligent logistics, and traffic safety. The Baltic states aim to enable seamless connectivity by creating a secure digital infrastructure, ensuring citizens benefit from a safer, more efficient, and innovative transport ecosystem.
Main Objectives of the 5G Corridor
The 5G Corridor project is not just another digital transformation initiative; it is a pioneering leap forward in Europe’s transport and mobility systems. By establishing a robust foundation of ultra-fast, low-latency, and reliable 5G connectivity, this initiative is set to redefine the movement of people and goods, and the operation of services and industries in the connected future.
Ensure Ubiquitous 5G Connectivity: The project’s vision is to create seamless 5G coverage along critical transport routes, including Via Baltica and Rail Baltica, which connect the Baltic region with the rest of Europe. This involves a meticulously planned and executed installation of 5G infrastructure, including advanced mobile networks, fiber optic cables, and transmission towers, ensuring uninterrupted and high-speed data transmission. Whether in urban centers or more remote rural areas, the goal is to establish a continuous, reliable connection supporting all digital communication and services.
Support Autonomous and Connected Mobility (CAM): The 5G Corridor project’s major ambition is to enable the development and deployment of autonomous and connected vehicles (CAM). 5G technology’s ability to handle massive data loads with minimal delay (low latency) is not just a technological feat, but a game-changer for road safety. In autonomous systems, where real-time decision-making can mean the difference between safe navigation and potential accidents, 5G’s low latency is a lifesaver. Vehicles will be able to communicate with each other (vehicle-to-vehicle, V2V), with infrastructure (vehicle-to-infrastructure, V2I), and with other smart devices (vehicle-to-everything, V2X), allowing them to anticipate and react to traffic conditions, road hazards, or unexpected events in milliseconds.
Promote Traffic Safety and Sustainability: One of the most promising aspects of the 5G Corridor is its potential to enhance traffic safety and promote sustainable mobility dramatically. Through real-time monitoring, intelligent sensors, and instant data sharing, authorities and drivers can respond faster to accidents, congestion, or hazardous conditions. For instance, emergency response systems can automatically alert nearby vehicles and dispatch assistance to accident sites faster than ever. Additionally, connected mobility enables vehicles to adjust routes dynamically, minimizing traffic jams and avoiding high-pollution zones, leading to more efficient and eco-friendly travel.
Enable New Digital Services: Beyond transport, the infrastructure will also support a range of innovative digital services, from real-time analytics for intelligent traffic systems to remote healthcare and IoT (Internet of Things) applications, enhancing the quality of life for citizens across the Baltic region.
One of the most exciting possibilities is smart traffic systems that use real-time analytics to optimize traffic lights, manage road use, and reduce congestion. In addition to improving mobility, these services can help with urban planning, resource management, and even remote healthcare—where 5G’s low-latency capabilities enable high-quality telemedicine and emergency interventions, even while in transit.
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Progress and Key Milestones (2020-2024)
The timeline of the 5G Cross-Border Transport Corridors for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) project highlights key milestones in the collaborative efforts of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Estonia to establish 5G connectivity along the Via Baltica and Rail Baltica corridors. From the project’s official registration to the ongoing pursuit of EU funding, these steps mark significant progress towards creating a fully connected, automated, and future-ready transport network in the Baltic region.
2020: The project was officially registered and key stakeholders initiated discussions on cross-border coordination and technical requirements.
2021: Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Estonia signed formal agreements, affirmed their commitment to building the necessary infrastructure and collaborated on legal, policy, and technical aspects. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Baltic countries on September 28, 2018, following an earlier agreement between Lithuania and Poland on September 5, 2018.
2022-2023: Planning intensified, with the establishment of an intergovernmental Working Group in 2019 to oversee the implementation. The group, which includes representatives from all participating nations, met several times to refine the project’s technical scope and coordinate financial and regulatory efforts.
2024: As of this year, the project continues to progress towards implementation, with a clear focus on infrastructure deployment across Via Baltica and Rail Baltica. The Baltic countries are actively pursuing funding through EU mechanisms, including Horizon 2020 and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF2), with the European Commission proposing EUR 3 billion for large-scale 5G corridor deployments across Europe.
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Telecom Operators and Vendors Leading the Way
Several major telecom operators are playing a crucial role in advancing 5G connectivity along the Via Baltica, significantly enhancing digital infrastructure across the Baltic states.
Telia (Sweden): Leading the charge in the region, Telia is actively rolling out 5G services in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The company has initiated several 5G pilot projects and is dedicated to ensuring robust 5G coverage along vital transportation routes like Via Baltica.
Tele2 (Sweden): A prominent player in the Baltic telecom landscape, Tele2 is recognized for its cutting-edge mobile communication solutions. The company is rapidly expanding its 5G network to deliver high-speed internet and innovative services for both businesses and consumers across the region.
Orange Polska (Poland): As a subsidiary of the global telecom leader, Orange, Orange Polska is a significant contributor to Poland’s 5G deployment. The company has ambitious plans to collaborate with the Polish government, ensuring that major highways, including Via Baltica, are equipped with advanced 5G technology.
LMT (Latvia): One of Latvia’s largest telecom operators, LMT, is at the forefront of 5G innovation. The company is exploring various applications such as connected drones, autonomous driving, and smart traffic systems, expressing a keen interest in using Via Baltica as a testing ground for these advanced technologies.
Nokia (Finland): On the infrastructure front, Finnish telecom giant, Nokia, is playing a vital role in establishing the hardware necessary for 5G deployment in the Baltic region.
Challenges and Opportunities
Given that Via Baltica and Rail Baltica stretch across several nations, one of the main challenges has been coordinating infrastructure development and technical standards across borders. To address this, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland have aligned their efforts under a joint roadmap, signed in November 2019, which outlines their strategy for deploying 5G networks along these corridors.
Since the 5G transport corridors span multiple countries, ensuring seamless infrastructure operation and user experience is not just important; it’s critical. The use of the 3.5 GHz and 700 MHz spectrum bands for 5G coverage along TEN-T highways is conditional on the basis of employing these frequencies specifically for such corridors. To manage frequency usage near borders, cross-border frequency coordination agreements must be established. These agreements between neighboring countries set the rules for frequency use and coordination, aiming to reduce interference and streamline the installation of base stations (BSs).
For end users, roaming and seamless network handover are the most crucial factors when crossing borders. In cross-border scenarios, roaming has traditionally been the primary source of service disruption. However, improving 5G roaming capabilities aims to ensure smooth network transitions during border crossings, effectively extending the user’s home network service area.
Another key challenge is handover, during which data transmission is interrupted as a mobile device switches from one cell to another. The 3GPP has worked extensively to minimize handover times, aiming for a transition within milliseconds. While 5G networks can achieve this in some cases, such as within the same cell, the most critical scenario in cross-border regions involves inter-PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) handovers, where a mobile device must switch between mobile network operators (MNOs) of different countries. Ensuring smooth handovers in these cases is essential to maintaining continuous service for users traveling through 5G corridors.
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Funding and Infrastructure Investment
Deploying 5G infrastructure is a costly endeavor. In Lithuania alone, preliminary estimates suggest the project will require EUR 27 million for mobile towers, fiber optics, and associated technologies. However, significant funding opportunities exist under the Connecting Europe Facility 2 (CEF2) for 2021-2027, which is expected to channel significant investments into digital connectivity infrastructures. Part of the EUR 3 billion earmarked by the European Commission is intended for large-scale 5G deployment along critical European transport routes, including the Baltic corridors.
International Relations Powered by 5G
In July this year, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, visited Vilnius. During his visit, he met with Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis. The two ministers discussed telecommunications collaboration, the development of 5G connectivity, and visited the Lithuanian Radio and Television Center (Telecentras), as well as inspected one of two new state-owned data centers under construction in Vilnius.
Poland and Baltic countries are intensifying their cooperation to ensure high-quality 5G connections along the major transport corridors of Via Baltica and Rail Baltica, covering both road and rail routes. By 2025, 5G infrastructure is expected to be operational in urban areas, international land transport corridors, key rail lines, and airports and seaports.
In June 2023, the Lithuanian government classified the development of 5G as a critical state project. The two new state data centers being built next to the Vilnius TV Tower will significantly enhance the country’s information security, save both energy and financial resources, and centrally manage data for hundreds of governmental institutions and organizations. The total investment in Telecentras’ state data centers, technology, and telecommunications is expected to exceed EUR 20 million.
Furthermore, the French-Latvian Business Forum in Riga brought together business leaders and policymakers from the transport, defense, and renewable energy sectors. Organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Latvia and the French Foreign Trade Advisors of the Baltic States (CCEF), the event provided a platform for strategic networking and discussions, with a particular focus on the transformative Rail Baltica project. Discussions centered on how robust infrastructure like Rail Baltica enhances economic attractiveness, creates jobs, boosts tourism, and fosters regional development.
Thierry Boussillon, Chief Programme Management Officer at RB Rail AS, commented, “We are delighted to witness growing investor interest in the Baltic region, which is becoming a dynamic hub for innovation and development. The Rail Baltica project represents substantial business opportunities, and we are proud to collaborate with numerous French companies to bring this ambitious infrastructure to life. This forum serves as an excellent platform to strengthen these partnerships and explore new avenues for investment and cooperation.”
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En Route to the Future
The journey toward a fully connected Via Baltica and Rail Baltica, powered by 5G technology, is gaining momentum, paving the way for a new era of digital infrastructure across the Baltic region. This ambitious project promises to transform Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland into a cutting-edge hub for smart mobility, autonomous transport, and innovative digital services. The collaboration between governments, telecom operators, and the European Union is propelling this vision closer to reality.
As 5G infrastructure continues to develop over the coming years, the way people and goods move across the Baltic states will undergo a profound transformation. Efficiency will be enhanced through seamless connectivity, while safety and sustainability will take center stage, reshaping both transport and communication. This 5G-powered network will not only streamline transportation but also enable innovative technologies that will redefine the region’s future. The horizon is bright, with a fully connected and smarter Baltic region soon within reach.
