Telenor Sweden and Tele2 Sweden have recently announced an agreement to build a joint 4G network in Sweden. Under the agreement, the two companies will enter a 50-50 joint venture for network construction and sharing of spectrum in the 900MHz and 2600MHz frequency bands. The roll-out of what will be Sweden’s most extensive 4G network will start this year with the intent of launching LTE-based high-speed mobile broadband services in the end of 2010, while at the same time improving voice coverage (GSM) for all customers.
Commenting on the announcement, Telenor Sweden’s CEO, Lars-Åke Norling, said: “This is where the race to 4G begins. By building a joint network and sharing our spectrum we create a whole new playing field on the Swedish market, placing ourselves in pool position to provide high-speed mobile broadband with the best coverage and quality. Sharing this investment ensures cost-efficiency and enables a solid market position in the long run for Telenor in Sweden.”
For the record, according to the two operators’ research, in 2013, 99% of the Swedish population will have access to mobile broadband at speeds of up to 80 Mbit/s in rural areas and up to 150 Mbit/s in urban areas!