Finland’s Sonera has announced plans to deploy its LTE network in Turku during May and June. The operator has already launched the system for pre-commercial use in the centre of Turku and by the banks of the River Aura. Cooperation with the City of Turku as part of the European Capital of Culture project will give Sonera valuable user experience of LTE services. Sonera will assess future expansion and commercial roll-out of the LTE network in Finland based on local market conditions.

Sonera is rolling out Finland’s first 4G network in Turku. Sonera and the City of Turku are together exploring the possibilities of the new generation mobile services.

The 4G network launched today for pre-commercial use in Turku, offers faster mobile data transmission than ever before. The network to be rolled out during May and June is available in the centre of Turku and by the banks of the River Aura.

• We want to be the first out with 4G in Finland as part of the European Capital of Culture project, says Mayor Mikko Pukkinen.
• The new network makes it possible, for example, to stream live music and theatrical performances in new ways. One of Turku’s important goals during its Capital of Culture year is to open events up for a wider audience through the Internet. The network that is built now will also support the city’s development after 2011, says Mikko Pukkinen.
• The cooperation with the City of Turku gives Sonera valuable user experience of 4G services.
• We will continue to develop the 4G services together with an important customer. The city centre of Turku offers a good environment for us to prepare for the commercial launch of the next generation mobile broadband services, says Pasi Mehtonen, Commercial Director of Sonera’s Mobility Services.
• We are looking forward to the experiences that the users in Turku will gain from 4G. Together we wish to show the residents of Turku how the next-generation services can be utilized, Mehtonen continues.

The next-generation mobile network offers phenomenally fast mobile data transmission, which makes it possible to use, for example, video, interactive TV services, and many professional applications easily on the mobile network.
Customers’ need for capacity and speed is growing constantly. Sonera presented the first 4G connection in Finland in December 2009. 4G makes it possible to provide mobile broadband services with a transmission rate of 20 to 80 Mbps and a maximum rate of up to 100 Mbps. Sonera will make decisions on the expansion and commercial roll-out of the 4G network in Finland later in 2010 based on local market conditions.