TeliaSonera’s Finnish unit and DNA have agreed to build together and share networks in the sparsely populated northern and eastern parts of Finland.
The agreement covers half of Finland’s landmass where only 15% of the country’s population lives….
TeliaSonera’s Finnish unit and DNA have agreed to build together and share networks in the sparsely populated northern and eastern parts of Finland.
The agreement covers half of Finland’s landmass where only 15% of the country’s population lives. The operators are obliged to provide coverage to 95% of the Finnish population by 2017, and 97% or 99% – depending on the licence – by 2019.
The joint venture will be called Suomen Yhteisverkko Oy and is set to become operational at the start of 2015. It will build an all-new 2G, 3G and 4G network in the region.
The unit will be jointly controlled and equally governed by the consensus principle, with TeliaSonera owning 51% and DNA 49%.
Suomen Yhteisverkko Oy will own the radio network equipment, but rent masts and base station facilities from either the two operators or from third parties. TeliaSonera and DNA will also combine their 800 MHz frequency blocks.
Antti Jokinen, formerly head of networks at DNA, has been appointed CEO of the joint venture.
Robert Andersson, head of TeliaSonera’s European operations, said the partnership would enable the operator to “accelerate the rollout of super-fast mobile internet across all of Finland”.
DNA CEO Jukka Leinonen added that the agreement would cut the operators’ costs.
TeliaSonera and DNA acquired their 800 MHz licences, suitable for 4G, last October following a lengthy auction process. DNA spent €33.6m on the 20-year licences and TeliaSonera €41.1m.
