Elisa has launched a pre-commercial LTE network in a small area in Helsinki in cooperation with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). The Finnish operator has also been expanding its WCDMA/HSPA network in response to the dramatic growth in the use of mobile broadband. LTE technology will enable development of new services using higher data rates. The company plans to launch commercial LTE services when availability of LTE terminal devices increases.

Elisa, together with Nokia Siemens Networks, has started at the beginning of this year a 4G network based on the new Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in Finland for pre-commercial use. Elisa's 4G network operates in a small area in Helsinki and enables mobile connections of up to 100 Mbps. In addition to the systematic development of the 3G network and its coverage, Elisa is preparing for the utilisation of new technologies from the moment they can be offered to customers.

Elisa continues to make large investments in the coverage and speed of its 3G network in order to respond to the dramatic growth in the use of mobile broadband. According to a recent survey Elisa’s 3G network has the widest coverage in Finland and the best results in data rates. The current development will enable the use of higher-speed video services with mobile devices in the future. In addition, easy real-time use of the Internet directly with the phone will substantially improve the user experience of the customers. For Elisa, this cooperation entails the potential to implement new services for its customers and the gathering of experience of Nokia Siemens Networks’ 4G technology.

Elisa’s 4G network and cooperation with Nokia Siemens Networks enables development of new services utilizing even higher data rates. Services will be available to the public when the availability of 4G terminal devices increases. Our investment in both the current 3G network and preparation for the new technology benefit our customers most. At the moment, the mobile broadband services in our 3G network cover a very large geographic area, even at speeds of 15 Mbps, says Timo Katajisto, Production Director at Elisa.

LTE will enable an improved user experience in high-speed mobile broadband connections, and offer new business opportunities for all players in the field. Nokia Siemens Networks is very pleased with the development work with Elisa, both with respect to the upcoming LTE technology and the continuously developing 3G technology, says Tommi Uitto, Head of Product Management at Nokia Siemens Networks.

Elisa is the leading provider of communications services in the Nordic countries, and is publicly listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Large Cap list. In addition to the Nordic countries, Elisa also has operations in the Baltic countries and Russia. We serve about 2 million consumers regionally and around 150,000 enterprises and entrepreneurs internationally, offering a wide range of subscriptions with services. We provide experiences for people and enhance productivity for organisations online. Elisa focuses on developing consumer and corporate ICT and online services. In 2009, our revenue totalled EUR 1.43 billion. The number of personnel is approximately 3,200. Elisa’s global alliance partners are Vodafone and Telenor. For more information, visit www.elisa.fi.

Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of telecommunications services. With its focus on innovation and sustainability, the company provides a complete portfolio of mobile, fixed and converged network technology, as well as professional services including consultancy and systems integration, deployment, maintenance and managed services. It is one of the largest telecommunications hardware, software and professional services companies in the world. Operating in 150 countries, its headquarters are in Espoo, Finland. www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com