Tet planning to increase its digital exporting capacity

In the coming years, Latvian telecommunications and technology company Tet is planning to significantly expand its digital exporting capacity by investing EUR 30 million in the construction of an innovative data centre in Salaspils, just outside of Riga. The DC7 data centre is expected to not only increase Latvia’s international competitiveness in the technology sector, but also set an example for sustainable solutions in the Baltics. The construction of the data centre will make use of the latest energy efficiency solutions, while its technological systems will include innovative cybersecurity solutions and allow the operation of powerful artificial intelligence equipment. A unique precedent in Latvia will be the fact that the thermal energy produced by the operations of the data centre will be used for district heating thus ensuring sustainability and a valuable contribution to the local community.

Tet is currently one of the largest technology companies in the Baltic States offering security solutions for strengthening state critical infrastructure, the broadest optical internet infrastructure in Latvia, TV, internet, electricity and e-commerce services, as well as integrated IT&T solutions for companies in Latvia and abroad. 

Raising digital exporting capacity is one of the company’s key targets for the future, with its main areas of focus in exports being construction of optical internet infrastructure, data transmission, Backscreen media streaming services and data centre business. Last year, exported services by Tet data centres accounted for 60% of the company’s income. 

“We are very pleased to see the Tet data centre and cloud services business in a phase of healthy growth. Last year, we were able to bring in new customers both in the local and export markets, and our turnover has increased by several millions of euros. Last year, the number of customers using the Tet Cloud platform grew by 16% demonstrating a stable trend of customers increasingly choosing to move their resources to the Tet cloud platforms. Targeted investments in expanding our range of services and in developing competitive solutions have allowed us to significantly reinforce our competitiveness in Latvia and abroad,” Edgars Grandāns, Chief Commercial Officer at Tet, explains. 

The new DC7 data centre will be one of the most advanced and green data centres in the Baltic region. Its technological capabilities will allow for the development, hosting and maintenance of customised private cloud solutions based on customer needs, as well as ensure secure IT hosting for customers in Latvia and abroad. 

“The solutions provided by the data centre will be able to be fully integrated with the Tet Cloud infrastructure, which is hosted in Latvia and Germany. Unlike existing data centres, the new DC7 centre will use liquid cooling systems which are suited for high-computing capacity systems, and the DC7 server racks will be able to house even 30 kW systems. The competitive advantage of Tet technologies lies within its ability to create customised solutions based on the specific needs of a customer. Our technologies allow not only for flexible adjustment of computing power, but also offer integrated security tools for protecting our customers’ IT infrastructures,” Mr Grandāns elaborates on the advantages provided by the company’s services. 

The DC7 centre will be unique in that it will be the first time in Latvia that thermal energy produced by the data centre will be transferred to be used for public utility purposes and district heating. The thermal energy produced by the data centre will be transferred to public utility manager “Salaspils Siltums”. In summer, the energy will be used to heat water, while in winter it will be used for heating.

Construction of the new data centre will begin in the autumn of 2024, and this will be Tet’s 7th data centre.

Information material prepared with the support of the Recovery Fund. The author is solely responsible for the content of this publication. The views expressed herein do not reflect the official position of the European Union or the European Commission.