Sonera to phase out rural landline phone networks within a year
Broadband services to be wireless by end of 2009
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By Jarmo Aaltonen
TeliaSonera plans to close down the fixed-line telephone networks in sparsely-populated areas within a year, and to offer wireless networks in their place. The broadband services of the same rural areas will be shifted onto Sonera's wireless networks by the end of 2009.
The change will apply to about 53,000 households in remote areas. Landline telephones will operate normally in those areas until the wireless networks are set up in their place.
Sonera promises that it will secure landline standard reliability for its mobile services before the transition. Sonera estimates that there are about 50 households in Finland in areas out of reach of a mobile signal. External antennas are to be set up in those houses.
Jukka-Pekka Weckström, who is responsible for broadband services at Sonera says that the company will soon install wireless technology in many locations, where the long and easily damaged phone lines have few users.
Sonera's mobile phone network covers about 97 per cent of Finland's surface area, and nearly 100 per cent of the population. More than 96 per cent of Finland's households have one or more mobile telephones.
"We will secure reasonably-priced telecommunications services that are at least as good as the present ones. All customers that this applies to will be informed of the change separately, and guidance will be offered for the use of the new services", Weckström promises.
Sonera also promises to pay compensation for the soon-to-be obsolete landline telephones and modems. For difficult locations, the company recommends a table telephone and an external antenna to access the mobile network. The equipment costs between EUR 100 and EUR 200.
Sonera says that the mobile phone calls are cheaper and safer on average for residents of sparsely populated areas, because they are not vulnerable to thunder, strong wind, and heavy snow. Going mobile will also eliminate the EUR 20 in charges for a fixed-line connection. The monthly fee for the mobile network is EUR 2.
The reduction in the number of landline phones has meant that the relative maintenance costs of remaining telephone lines have grown so much that replacing old telephone poles is not economically viable.
In sparsely populated areas, Sonera is offering broadband services of up to one megabit on the Digita @450 network. Sonera is constantly expanding its 3G network, which now extends to about 110 communities. This will allow for a broadband transfer speed of 3,6 megabits.
At the beginning of this year Sonera lowered the price of its wireless broadband service by five euros to EUR 44.90 a month.
Minister of Communications Suvi Lindén (Nat. Coalition Party) will ask Sonera for a report in mid-March how the company plans to secure data services for those losing their landline connections.
"The law allows for the unilateral opening of licence conditions in a case like this. We certainly want to work together with Sonera, but we are absolutely holding on to the requirement that certain quality standards are met", Lindén says.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 16.2.2008
JARMO AALTONEN / Helsingin Sanomat
jarmo.aaltonen@hs.fi
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| 19.2.2008 - THIS WEEK |
 Sonera to phase out rural landline phone networks within a year |
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