TeliaSonera aiming to be the first operator in the world to launch a commercial LTE network

TeliaSonera, a Swedish mobile operator who also serves other countries in Northern Europe, is looking to be the first mobile operator in the world to launch a commercial LTE network in 2010. The first step at achieving such an audacious goal is of course to get some LTE equipment, and TeliaSonera has just confirmed that they’ve received LTE modems from Samsung which they’ll offer to customers in Stockholm and Oslo in 2010.

“The 4G modems from Samsung will play a very important role in our 4G launch in Sweden and Norway.” — Kenneth Karlberg, President and Head of Mobility Services, TeliaSonera

“We are very pleased to work together with TeliaSonera. This is an historic step forward for today’s telecommunication industry. With TeliaSonera’s initiation of a 4G service we expect more consumers to enjoy advanced mobile broadband services much earlier than expected.” — JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics

I feel bad for the people who are going to be plugging that bulky thing into the side of their laptop. Just look at it! No doubt that over time dongles will get smaller, and of course laptop makers will simply build LTE right in at some point.

Launching LTE in two countries, with a combined population of 13.7 million, which is less than the American state of Florida, but more than the population of Illinois, doesn’t sound like it should be too difficult to accomplish. You have to feel for Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and AT&T who want to launch LTE to a nation of over 300 million people. Verizon should be the first to bring LTE to America, especially considering that they’ve had a test network up since August of this year and have committed to launching LTE in 2010.

Who do you think will launch a commercial LTE network first: Verizon or TeliaSonera?

And Japan, seriously, what the hell, you’re supposed to be the first at everything! What gives?

[Via: Cellular News]