Nokia and TeliaSonera Sweden have signed an agreement for the expansion of TeliaSonera Sweden's GSM radio network as well as an upgrade with EDGE functionality.  The expansion provided by Nokia will also contribute to increasing TeliaSonera's network coverage from 70 to 90 percent of Sweden's geographical area. 

 

The agreement covers the delivery of equipment and services for coverage expansion and the activation of EDGE services in TeliaSonera Sweden's network.  In this project Nokia will deploy its newest generation of base station controllers, the Nokia BSC3i. 

 

"The extension of GSM/EDGE to our customers is key to our aim of providing the best mobile service possible throughout the country," says Håkan Dahlström, Head of Mobile Networks, TeliaSonera.  "By expanding GSM coverage and introducing EDGE functionality, we are greatly expanding the reach of multimedia services with the most cost effective solution for our existing and future customers." 

 

"We are very pleased to continue our strong relationship with TeliaSonera Sweden," says Jan Lindgren, Vice President of TeliaSonera CBT at Nokia.  "The deployment of EDGE in its GSM network will play an important role in TeliaSonera's continued success in Sweden.  The adoption of EDGE will allow TeliaSonera Sweden to provide their customers with high-speed mobile data in all parts of the country. 

 

Deliveries of the EDGE equipment and software will begin in 2005, and the entire project will be completed within four years.  Nokia has been working with TeliaSonera Sweden since 1994, and the two companies already have an EDGE trial ongoing in Gothenburg.

 

Nokia has a strong track record in implementing EDGE and promoting the further evolution of EDGE.  Nokia has reached the global number one position in this technology by launching the world's first EDGE terminal, the first of a total of 23 EDGE-capable GSM/GPRS terminals from Nokia, and by introducing the first EDGE-WCDMA multimode terminal and making the first EDGE-WCDMA intersystem handover call.  Nokia has 42 EDGE network references, and Nokia's solution has been used in 21 of the 43 commercially launched EDGE networks worldwide. 

 

About Nokia

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry.  Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses.  Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com.

 

About TeliaSonera

TeliaSonera is the leading telecommunications company in the Nordic and Baltic regions. At the end of December 2003 TeliaSonera had 11,957,000 mobile customers (37,610,000 incl associated companies) and 8,061,000 fixed customers (9,160,000 incl associated companies) and 1,631,000 internet customers (1,691,000 incl associated companies). Outside the home markets TeliaSonera has extensive interests in the growth markets in Russia, Turkey and Eurasia. TeliaSonera is listed on the Stockholm Exchange and the Helsinki Exchanges. Pro forma net sales January-December 2003 amounted to SEK 81.7 billion (EUR 9.01 billion). The number of employees was 26,694.

 

 

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Notes to editors

EDGE is a smooth upgrade to GSM networks, providing data services on average three times faster and at lower costs than GPRS technology. EDGE brings a seamless coverage and capacity extension for 3G services, such as streaming, high-quality video/audio clips, browsing and corporate data access. GSM/EDGE networks naturally operate in GSM bands, and there is no need for operators to acquire new licences.

Nokia has so far launched 23 EDGE terminal models.

 

EDGE is a truly global 3G technology, part of the GSM family. GSM/EDGE networks operate in GSM bands and there is no need to acquire new licences.