Riga
TV & Internet in Riga
TV Service in Latvia
In Latvia there are two national TV stations and several privately owned TV stations several of whom are a part of international media companies. The language of these channels is Latvian and foreign movies and TV series are dubbed in Latvian. In addition, a large number of other channels are available through cable and satellite TV providers. These usually are in the original language with the option to select Latvian subtitles.
Channels
The state operates two digital TV channels:
- LTV 1
- LTV 7
The biggest digital private Latvian TV channels are:
- LNT
- TV 3
- TV 3+
- TV 6
Each of these channels offers a mix of news and entertainment content, including self-produced and foreign TV shows and movies.
Cable TV
The only "classic" cable company that operates in Latvia is Baltcom that offers TV channel packs with or without decoder. The various sets of TV channels (e.g., movies, sports, international news) cost between 5 EUR and 20 EUR per month depending on the number and type of channels. The company offers to sell a decoder (approx. 84 EUR one-time payment) that enables the client to view digital and HD channels.
A good alternative to cable TV is Internet TV that is offered by most Internet providers (see this guide's section on Internet). Internet TV costs as little as 5 EUR per month and can be booked either separately or together with your phone and/or internet connection.
Satellite TV
The largest satellite TV service provider is Viasat that offers a wide section of TV channels only available for its users, including several movie and sports channels. Viasat offers several sets of channels that cost between 10 EUR and 35 EUR per month. A decoder is usually included in the monthly price. Viasat services can be either ordered online or bought in most tech stores across Latvia.
In Latvia it is fairly popular to buy a satellite dish and install it yourself as this makes it possible to watch thousands of (uncoded) international TV channels without any monthly costs.
Internet Service in Latvia
In the past decade Latvia has consistently been among the world's top 10 countries by Internet speed. Especially in the big cities optical internet lines are available and mean easily available, cheap and fast Internet connections. For example, a 100 Mbit/s connection typically costs around 15 EUR a month, a 400 Mbit/s connection is available for as little as 30 EUR a month.
The speed and price of the Internet connection depends on the infrastructure available at your address. Commonly the price of a router is included in the contract, however you can choose to buy your own.
The majority of providers offer service packages that, in addition to an internet connection, also include a phone line and interactive TV. Shop around for the best offers.
Providers
Lattelecom
- Address: Dzirnavu iela 105, Riga LV 1011
- Phone: 177 or 67000177
- E-mail: lattelecom@lattelecom.lv
- Website: http://lattelecom.lv/
- E-service website: https://mans.lattelecom.lv/myltc/
Baltcom
- Address: Merkela iela 21, Riga LV 1050
- Phone: 67480000
- E-mail: info@baltcom.lv
- Website: http://www.baltcom.lv/
- E-service website: https://www.mansbaltcom.lv/
EDAN
- Address: Ruses iela 14-112, Riga LV 1029
- Phone: 67004444 or 26818008
- E-mail: edan@edan.lv
- Website: http://www.edan.lv/
Balticom
- Address: Straupes iela 5, Riga LV 1073
- Phone: 67333337 or 29333333
- E-mail: pieslegums@balticom.lv
- Website: https://www.balticom.lv/
Internet Installation in Latvia
Once you have applied for an internet connection with the provider of your choice, they will offer you several possible dates for installation. Typically, you will receive a time slot of 3-4 hours during which the technician will stop by within one to two weeks from the date of application.
Internet Cafés in Riga
With the advent of free WiFi in most cafes and restaurants (see next section) internet cafes have lost their popularity and only a few remain from what was once a widely available service.
Some central cafes in Riga:
- International Exchange Center, Kalku iela 20
- DR Centrs, Elizabetes iela 75
- Elik, Kalku iela 11
An hour of internet costs approximately 0.50 EUR.
WiFi in Riga
Free wireless internet is available in almost every cafe and restaurant; keep your eye out for "Free WiFi" signs. In many cafes WiFi networks are password protected, inquire with the staff.
In addition, Lattelecom offers a service of over 4000 WiFi access points all over Latvia. The majority of these networks are free of charge and an up-to-date map can be found on the Lattelecom website or by calling 177.
Update 26/08/2015
Related articles:
When you move internationally you are taking a big step. Lots of things are changing and you have a million things to think about and take care of. If you are able to select a top of the line moving company that moves for a modest price, it can take a big weight of your shoulders in busy times.
Our network of international removal companies can move your furniture & possessions to Latvia and anywhere overseas.
Filling in the form will allow you to request up to 5 quotes from various moving companies. This service is free of charge and will help you select an international moving company that suits your needs and budget.
Do you have comments or personal information to communicate about this article? Add your comment.
Find links about moving in / tv & internet in Riga and a lot more in The links of expatriation.
Find more definitions and general answers on expatriation issues in the Expat FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).
Go to the Forum to talk more about tv & internet in Riga, moving in.