Nordic operators compete for LTE customers

LTE deployments in the Nordic region are gaining traction as Sweden has three operators competing for LTE customers and Finland gets its first LTE deployment.
Swedish wireless operator Tele2 (OH6V) is using Nokia Siemens Network’s Evolved Packet Core as part of its LTE deployment, announced mid-November. The LTE landscape in Sweden is interesting for a number of reasons. TeliaSonera (OH6X) first launched LTE service in the country a year ago. Competitors Tele2 and Telenor (OG8C) Sweden have a network-sharing agreement for spectrum and the LTE network. The joint venture, called Net4Mobility, selected Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. to build its infrastructure and modems. Thus three operators are providing services as wireless replacements for DSL.
Tele2 and Telenor have launched service in four markets across Sweden and plan to deploy services in 11 more cities over the coming months. The companies are citing network speeds of up to 80 Megabits per second.
“More and more people cut fixed telephony at home to become mobile,” said Niclas Palmstierna, CEO of Tele2 Sweden, at launch Nov. 15. “The same development will happen on the fixed broadband market with the 4G technology.”
Tele2 is charging $72 per month for unlimited data for customers who sign an 18-month contract. The operator is discounting payments for the first year to $43 per month. Telenor is charging roughly $80 per month, with discounts for contracts. TeliaSonera charges closer to $90 per month.
Nokia Siemens Networks said it is providing the Evolved Packet Core for Tele2 Sweden, giving the operator a common core to support LTE, 3G and 2G offerings, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and IP telephony services. NSN also deployed its Subscriber Data Management and Subscriber Repository platforms, including is Home Subscriber Service and Equipment Identity Register. NSN also will upgrade the existing core network to enable a path to an all-IP network, as well as maintain servies for the systems. “With smart device users and the demand for data services increasing, Tele2 Sweden was looking to scale up its network,” added Christian Fredrikson, head of sales for Network Systems, Nokia Siemens Networks. “Our EPC prepares the operator for high-speed data services. It also eliminates the need for additional elements in the transport network and achieves an optimized IP-based network architecture that secures the operator’s investments in the long run.”
Finland gets LTE
Meanwhile, TeliaSonera said it launched the first commercial LTE network in Finland. The services will be offered to customers in Turku and Helsinki. The company had been testing the service in Turku for six months. The operator said it also is offering LTE service in the business center area north of Helsinki. While the network operates at 2.6 GHz, TeliaSonera said it is planning to build in the 1.8 GHz frequency as well to get broader coverage.
TeliaSonera said it has not chosen network equipment manufacturers yet, but that NSN is supplying the network in Turku and L.M. Ericsson is supplying the Helsinki network. The operator is charging about $60 per month for the service, which includes a 4G modem that supports 2G and 3G services.