Milestones

2011

  • January: Information aggregated by Datorikas institūts Divi shows that in 2010, 58% of inhabitants of Latvia who were changing their mobile operators retaining their mobile numbers chose Bite.
  • February: Bite informs that it has increased its customer base by 70% in 2010 reaching 320 thousand. By expanding the customer base the revenue of Bite Latvia reached 27.3 million lats in 2010, which is by 22% more than in 2009.
  • February: BiFri organizes a celebrity counterpart contest and invites everybody to send in a photo where the person resembles some celebrity. The results of the contest showed that the Latvians mainly resemble Hollywood film stars.
  • April:  BiFri survey shows that 66% of inhabitants of Latvia have the longest phone calls to their sweethearts.
  • April: Bite Latvija launches the new budget smartphone Huawei U8500.
  • May: Bite changes its approach [te LV versijā nav pilns vārds] to the telecommunications market in Latvia by launching three simple and transparent rate plans that satisfy all needs of the customers in the field of mobile communication.

  • May: Bite launches a new prepaid card in the market: Bite Card.

  • May: Bite starts offering three simple rate plans for subscription as well as the new prepaid card, Bite Card, users thus ensuring the same favorable rates and conditions for all customers.

  • May: together with the new approach to the telecommunications market, Bite introduces also a new style for the visual communication by using in its advertisements illustrations drawn by hand. Besides, Bite has a new slogan: "Bite. The other company".

  • May: Bite in Riga and other largest Latvian cities puts green sofas near the busiest stops inviting everybody to expect the public transport differently – to choose a soft sofa instead of the traditional metal bench.

 

2010

  • January: confidence of the inhabitants of Latvia to Bite is increasing – according to MNP results Bite keeps its leading positions.
  • February: customers are invited to bring their old handsets at Bite outlets for recycling in cooperation with the Green Dot.
  • March: Bite participates in “Praise the excellent service” campaign.
  • March: Bite starts to offer BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 with 3G technology support and data compression technology which is using significantly smaller data amount than other mobile phones.
  • April: to improve the mood of its customers on April 1 Bite invites to call to a special toll-free number of customer care line and to record their laughter, which would be later used as a ringtone. The idea had a surprisingly good success – 6668 calls were received in total, and more than 22 hours of laughter were recorded.
  • April: Bite has been keeping its leading position according to MNP results already for one year.
  • May: Bite is the first telecommunications operator in the Baltic countries who introduces automatic control system for premium rate services, as well as an extra opportunity to switch this service off.
  • June: Bite starts the largest network modernization project in the Baltic states by signing an agreement with Huawei, the world’s leading mobile technology provider. Thanks to this cooperation the most advanced mobile communication network will be created, which will be ready to ensure 4G communications within the whole territory of the country.
  • June: Bite customer base exceeds 250 000.
  • August: Bite has successfully finished the test phase of network modernization project. Tests of new equipment are carried out in Jelgava: 5 base stations have been replaced and tested within 2 weeks.
  • August: Bite starts to offers BlackBerry® 9105 Pearl 3G.
  • September: Bite opens the first Mobile technology centre in Latvia where everybody can see and try the latest products of mobile technologies.
  • October: Bite Latvija turnover in Q3 of the year increases by 16% if compared to the previous year reaching 7.2 million lats
  • November: Bite Latvija and the world leading developer of mobile communication solutions Huawei finalize the modernization of Bite base stations, launching the most upgraded communication network in Baltics.
  • December: according to EPSI Rating study EPSI Baltic, 2010, Bite has a growing satisfaction among the business customers.
  • December: Bite provides its customers with a possibility to pay for its services also in Maxima stores all over Latvia.

 

2009

  • January: Bite introduces new fast and stylish mobile Internet modem Vodafone Mobile Connect in the market of Latvia. The device lets you browse the web and work online faster and easier. This is the first modem in Latvia with particularly fast data upload technology (HSUPA) ensuring not only fast data download, but also upload.
  • January: Bite is the first operator in Latvia to provide Samsung S3030 Tobi, a handset designed for kids and teenagers. The handset is made of environmentally friendly materials, and its special extra features help to improve the level of children security.
  • March: Bite starts to offer the newest Blackberry® smartphone to its customers. Latvia is one of the first European countries to enjoy the newest BlackBerry® CurveTM 8900.
  • March: the report on the quality of electronic communications services in 2008 published by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) shows that Bite has the best rate of successful calls among all Latvian operators.
  • March: Bite Latvija supports the Earth Hour campaign organized by the World Wildlife Fund. April: Bite keeps on developing its network coverage investing about 6 mln LVL in purchase and installation of telecommunications devices. Bite network coverage is available to more than 96 percent inhabitants of Latvia.
  • May: now Bite customers have an opportunity to purchase prepaid mobile internet SIM-cards without modem. As well, the new rates allow to control expenses for internet usage.
  • May: thanks to its mobile number portability results Bite becomes a leader – in April more than 40% of Latvian users of mobile phones who have decided to change their operator keeping their number have chosen Bite. Tendency to choose Bite keeps on increasing.
  • June: Bite continues to show the best mobile number portability results.
  • June: Bite Latvija telecommunications company participates in “Opportunity card” project for unemployed people organized by “Nāc un dari”, an organization of socially economic support, offering all unemployed who choose to join Bite network to save money and to keep on searching for new work opportunities with the help of mobile phone without changing their handset usage habits.
  • July: more than 40% of MNP customers have switched to Bite within the first half of the year, therefore Bite Latvija becomes the most popular operator according to customers’ choice.
  • July: Bite Latvija reduces roaming tariffs. The reduction of tariffs refers to all 27 EU member states, both to prepaid and postpaid users, both to voice services and SMS.
  • July: Bite is the first operator in Latvia to offer prepaid mobile internet roaming service.
  • August: along with the inhabitants and guests of Ventspils Bite takes part in Ventspils festive procession during the city celebration.
  • August: Bite surprises Riga during the city celebration with the first flashmob folk dance. This video becomes one of the most popular flashmob dance videos in this category.
  • August: Bite starts to offer smartphones with Google™ operating system.
  • September: Bite is the first operator in Latvia to offer its customers a unique opportunity to connect a rate plan without monthly fee and to call within Bite network for free.
  • September: Bite introduces a very beneficial BlackBerry® solution for companies. Bite customers can purchase Blackberry® Curve™ 8520 smartphone starting from 1 Ls per month depending on a chosen rate plan.
  • October: Bite starts to offer HTC Tattoo with Google Android operating system with all its main advantages: opportunity to adjust the smartphone to the needs of its users and integration of all main Google services and Android Market.
  • November: Bite shows the highest customer satisfaction ratio in the Baltic countries. Study of the Baltic mobile telecommunications operators for the year 2009 carried out by the international organization EPSI Baltic shows that in the Baltic countries Bite Latvija private sector customers are the most satisfied with the services provided by their operator and they are the most loyal.
  • December: according to MNP results Bite Latvija is the most popular operator of 2009.

 

2008

  • February: Bite puts a new fresh face with a new brand identity.
  • February: Bite Latvija launches a renewed brand with a fresh identity and an inspiring slogan “You can more”, encouraging inhabitants of Latvia to express themselves and participate in record-setting events in Riga.
  • March: For the first time in Latvian market Bite Latvija in cooperation with the international companies Vodafone and Research In Motion (RIM) offer BlackBerry® smartphone, this provides a unique solution for wireless access to e-mail and other programs. Additionally, Blackberry enables the customers to call, send and receive messages (SMS, MMS), browse the Internet and access Organizer as well as use many other programs that let them use their time more efficiently.
  • April: Be who you want to be! Bite Latvija offers BiFri, a new prepaid card with a youthful spirit and with clear advantages, such as simple and attractive rates, possibility to control expenses by using the functions of the phone and SMS as well as the website www.bifri.lv. This service is available in Latvia as well as abroad. Besides, it is possible to make a SOS call and perform a mobile transfer of money, when the account of the prepaid card is empty. BiFri users can also make calls to Skype from their mobile phone and receive many more new advantages.
  • April: In Q3 of 2008 Bite Latvija develops the business and shows the willingness to change the market in Latvia by increasing the investments by more than 32%, if compared to the same period in 2007.
  • May: Bite Latvija gives a present to Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum – a unique collection of works by contemporary young artists, created during Bite Open Art project. Now visitors of the museum will be able to enjoy art all year round.
  • June: Plan your costs effectively! Bite offers a rate plan Bite Business Budgets providing a unified monthly payment option and allowing the budget allocated to telecommunications to be easily divided among employees of the company in accordance with their needs and expenses.
  • June: Can mobile Internet modem be smaller? It can! Bite Latvija offers the latest and smallest modem from Vodafone in Latvian market - Vodafone Mobile Connect.
  • July: Bite greets customers of SIA “Telekomunikāciju grupa” in its network. As “Telekomunikāciju grupa” discontinues provision of mobile communications services, its customers will be further provided with these services by Bite Latvija.
  • July: The fast-growing network of Bite Latvija is now available to 95% of residents of Latvia and it keeps expanding.
  • July: Increase of revenue of Bite Latvija reflects the positive growth of the company in the first 6 months of 2008, showing a 37% increase compared to the same period last year.
  • September: Bite Latvija provides the advantages of the fast 3G mobile internet in the largest cities of Latvia. Now Bite 3G network is available to residents and guests of Riga, Adazi, Salaspils, Pinki, Carnikava, Marupe, Kekava, Kalngale, Ulbroka, Olaine, Daugavpils, Rezekne, Jelgava, Jurmala, Ventspils, Liepaja, Valmiera, Ogre and Jekabpils.
  • October: Bite Group announces a new CEO. Fred Hrenchuk, so far the CEO of Bite Latvija, becomes the CEO of Bite Group.
  • October: Travel together with BiFri. From now on BiFri users have the possibility to use mobile services not only in Latvia, but also while visiting Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary and Belgium.
  • October: In Q3 of 2008 the revenue of Bite Latvia, owned by Bite Group, reaches 6.5 million EUR. Growth in Latvian business increases the revenue of BITE Group by 4.2 percent.
  • November: Bite Latvija is the first in Latvia to introduce the prepaid Internet service Vodafone Mobile Connect. It is an easy-to-use mobile Internet solution, which allows paying only for the time that the customer has actually spent browsing mobile Internet wherever he goes – without any long-term contractual relations and liabilities.
  • November: In cooperation with one of the world’s largest mobile communications operators Vodafone and the leading international wireless solution development and production company Research In Motion (RIM) Bite Latvija offers a combination of elegance and functionality – the smartphone BlackBerry Bold™.
  • December: Bite Latvija significantly improves the network coverage quality in regions. Now high quality Bite network is available to more than 96 percent of inhabitants of Latvia and it continues to grow.

 

2007

  • October: Bite Latvija upgrades its mobile 3G broadband network to support download speed up to 7.2 Mbps - the highest speed in Latvia.
  • September: Bite Latvija has developed the most rapidly growing network in the Baltic States.
  • August: Bite Latvija ensures Internet connection for the unique MTV B-Day celebration - the craziest music event in Latvia.
  • March: Great news! The number of Bite Latvija customers has reached 200,000.
  • February: Bite Group announces a change of ownership. Now Mid Europa Partners - a leading independent private equity investment firm in Central and Eastern Europe - becomes the only Bite shareholder.
  • February: Do you need to call your on-line friends? Just do it! Bite Latvija launches calls to Skype innovative service.
  • February: Bite Latvija opens its own Customer Care center and provides its services to Bite customers for free! Just call 1601!

 

2006

  • November: Bite Latvija provides mobile communications for the international NATO summit in Riga. This was Bite’s most respected project to date.
  • October: Bite Latvija is proud to launch mobile internet innovation, never yet seen in Latvia - Vodafone Mobile Connect and Bite HotSpot services.
  • October: Let's celebrate! Bite Latvija launches the biggest 3G mobile internet portal in the Baltic States.
  • September: Bite enters the future! 3G/HSDPA broadband network is introduced in the seven largest Latvian cities: Riga, Daugavpils, Rezekne, Liepaja, Ventspils, Jelgava, and Jurmala.
  • September: Bite welcomes business customers and begins providing mobile communications services for Latvian businessmen.
  • June: Cheers! Bite Latvija welcomes the 100,000th customer from Aizkraukle.
  • April: Bite Latvija starts cooperation with world leading telecommunications operator Vodafone! A new friendship begins!
  • March: Taking care of our customers' comfort, Bite launches an innovative self-service internet portal www.manabite.lv.

 

2005

  • December: The Bite customer family is growing: already 50.000 customers have chosen Bite Latvija services.
  • November: Bite Latvija starts its retail network – the first 10 outlets are opened in Riga and Daugavpils.
  • November: Postpaid private customers can now join Bite with the Bite private tariff plan.
  • October: The exclusive on-line product Bite Online is sold and served via internet. The revolution continues!
  • September: The first real product is launched – the prepaid card TOXIC is introduced to the market.

July: Bite Latvija is born!