Omniva plans to align Estonia’s postal network with actual usage in 2026
Omniva will begin discussions on a strategic redesign of Estonia’s postal network in 2026. Under the current working plan, the number of public parcel machines would increase from today’s 387 to around 600. At the same time, the number of post offices would be reduced from 35 to 19 by the end of 2026, and the number of letterboxes would also be decreased. The aim is to close the gap between the historic infrastructure and people’s real needs and habits.
Technological development has reshaped consumer behaviour. Over the past decade, letter volumes have declined by 78% – statistically, an Estonian resident now sends less than one letter per year. During the same period, parcel volumes have grown by 216% due to the rise of e-commerce, and parcel machines have become the overwhelmingly preferred delivery channel. As a result, visits to post offices have been in steady decline.
“We maintain hundreds of letterboxes that we check three times a week, even when they remain empty. Some postal points handle only a handful of items per day, while a nearby parcel machine serves hundreds. Parcel machines are often full, but redirecting parcels to a post office instead causes customer dissatisfaction. People no longer use post offices to subscribe to periodicals or pay bills, as digital channels provide these services for free. Stamps are sold in shops across Estonia. Maintaining this historic postal network is increasingly inefficient and no longer serves the interests of our customers,” explained Omniva CEO Martti Kuldma.
In 2026, Omniva plans to bring Estonia’s postal network in line with the country’s changed needs and habits. The updated network would ensure at least one post office in every county, with additional offices in more densely populated Tallinn and Tartu – 19 in total, according to the initial analysis. Estonia currently has 35 post offices and several dozen post points.
Today, Estonia has 962 letterboxes, although the licence requires a minimum of 311. Omniva will continue to monitor usage and will remove low-use letterboxes over the next year, bringing the network in line with real demand.
At the same time, the parcel machine network will be significantly expanded. The first wireless community parcel machines – designed for smaller communities such as village centres, residential areas, bus stops, and petrol stations – will be introduced in early 2026. Several hundred of these will be added throughout the year, with locations chosen in cooperation with local municipalities. For comparison: Omniva currently operates 387 parcel machines in Estonia.
“This is only the beginning. In the coming years, we want parcel machines to be within a few hundred metres – practically slipper distance – of almost every home in Estonia,” Kuldma added. In the future, once the network is dense enough, parcel machines can also be used for delivering letters and periodicals.
For residents who are not ready or do not wish to use digital channels, Omniva offers a personalised postal service – the option to call a postal courier to their home or workplace free of charge in areas without a local postal outlet. Via the courier, customers can buy stamps and envelopes, send and receive letters and universal service parcels, pay bills, and subscribe to newspapers and magazines.
“People are accustomed to having a post office in their community, and its closure may create the feeling that the service is disappearing. In reality, the service is not disappearing – only the channel is changing. Consumer habits are no longer what they were 20 years ago. We cannot keep post offices open out of habit when people no longer use them, but we can build a network that provides services in the way modern consumers prefer. This is how we ensure the economic sustainability and future of postal services,” said Kuldma.
No decisions have yet been made regarding the specific locations of post offices, letterboxes, or new parcel machines. As a first step, Omniva will begin consultations on the planned changes with local municipalities, landlords, trade unions, and the Competition Authority.