Sonera extend 3G coverage to ten new towns

November 6, 2006

Sonera steps up the introduction of the 3G world by opening its UMTS network in ten new towns still in the course of this year. The towns are Imatra, Kajaani, Kemi, Kokkola, Kouvola, Lohja, Porvoo, Rauma, Riihimäki and Valkeakoski. The main ski resorts of Lapland have got Sonera's 3G coverage already earlier.

The network operates already in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Järvenpää, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Klaukkala, Kotka, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Maarianhamina, Pori, Rovaniemi, Salo, Seinäjoki, Tampere, Turku, Tuusula, Vaasa, Varkaus and Oulu and in the ski resorts of Levi, Ylläs, Saariselkä and Tahkovuori. In the wake of the expansion some 40% of Finland's population is now within the range of Sonera's UMTS network.

Increased mobile working and mobile services that become more versatile make greater demands than before on the network's capacity and data transfer rate. Fast data transfer can be useful in the use of e-mail, in browsing the Internet and in sending moving image, for example. Also video contents, downloading of music, games, mobile TV, navigator and other new services run more flexibly by means of faster data transfer. At its best the data transfer rate of Sonera's 3G network is 384 kb/s.

"Our aim is that as regards quality we have Finland's best network irrespective of the technology so that our customers can use the services they want with the terminal devices of their choice. We are now offering the most extensive 3G service in Finland", says Senior Vice President Esa Rautalinko of TeliaSonera Finland.

"Sonera's customer can easily have the 3G service package from a Sonera dealer, in the Internet at Sonera Kauppa (www.sonera.fi/kauppa) and from Sonera's Customer Service. Voice is economical when bought in suitable-sized packages, and text messages likewise. In the data transfer pricing we follow our new, clear time-based model", Esa Rautalinko states.

Sonera will expand its 3G coverage according to demand. Along with building of the UMTS network, developing of other fast data transfer systems will be continued, such as introducing EDGE in the GSM network.