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13th October 2004 - Finnish mobile operator TeliaSonera
Finland has successfully conducted the world's first
EDGE-WCDMA packet data handover using Nokia equipment
and terminals in a commercial network. Now TeliaSonera
Finland's customers can enjoy seamless continuation
of 3G services while roaming between EDGE and WCDMA
networks.
TeliaSonera Finland's commercial network has been upgraded
by Nokia to support intersystem handovers (ISHO) nationwide
and the connection was conducted using the world's first
terminal capable of EDGE-WCDMA ISHO - the Nokia 6630
imaging smartphone.
Handovers between WCDMA to GSM/GPRS/EDGE are crucial
to quality end user services experience, and are key
to the success of the smooth introduction of WCDMA.
"We are encouraged by the success of this packet
data EDGE-WCDMA handover with Nokia. This will mean
our customers can enjoy seamless 3G services as EDGE
bridges the gap between WCDMA and GPRS performance in
urban and rural areas," says Pasi Mehtonen, Vice
President, Products and Services, TeliaSonera Finland.
"As the world leader in EDGE technology we are
delighted with the success of this packet data handover
which marks another important milestone in the smooth
evolution of GSM networks to 3G," says Jan Lindgren,
Vice President, TeliaSonera Business Team, Networks,
Nokia.
"It is significant that these connections were
carried out in a commercial GSM/EDGE network that has
been upgraded to support handovers from WCDMA. This
clearly demonstrates that EDGE enables seemless coverage
for 3G service delivery that is complementary with WCDMA,"
he adds.
Handovers in the direction of WCDMA to EDGE and vice
versa - as Nokia and TeliaSonera Finland have now demonstrated
- are especially important in the initial phases of
commercial WCDMA deployment since WCDMA coverage will,
in the early phases, not be as ubiquitous as GSM/EDGE
service.
TeliaSonera Finland Oyj, the Finnish profit centre of
TeliaSonera, offers products and services under the
Sonera brand.
TeliaSonera is the leading telecommunications company
in the Nordic and Baltic regions. At the end of December
2003 TeliaSonera had 11,957,000 mobile customers (37,610,000
incl associated companies) and 8,061,000 fixed customers
(9,160,000 incl associated companies) and 1,631,000
internet customers (1,691,000 incl associated companies).
Outside the home markets TeliaSonera has extensive interests
in the growth markets in Russia, Turkey and Eurasia.
TeliaSonera is listed on the Stockholm Exchange, the
Helsinki Exchanges and the Nasdaq Stock Market in the
USA. Pro forma net sales January-December 2003 amounted
to SEK 81.7 billion (EUR 9.01 billion). The number of
employees was 26,694.
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