The Government of Finland granted a wireless operating license in the 450 MHz spectrum band to Digita Oy, which plans to deploy a wireless data network using Flarion Technologies Inc.’s Flash-OFDM technology.
The license requires Digita Oy to act only as a network operator, and it will be required to lease capacity on the network to all service providers on equal conditions. Digita said it planned to provide wireless broadband and eventually Voice over Internet Protocol services.
Digita said it plans to build the network in three states, with the first stage covering sparsely populated areas in Northern and Eastern Finland, the archipelago and coastal areas by September 2006. Digita said it plans to have nearly all of the country covered by the end of 2007 with complete coverage by September 2009.
The license was formerly used by Sonera for an analog mobile network that was shut down in 2002, The wide-ranging propagation capabilities of the 450 MHz spectrum band are seen as an efficient way to provide broadband services to rural areas.
Seven companies were vying for the license with five proposing a network using Flarion’s Flash-OFDM solution and two proposing networks using CDMA 450 MHz technology.
A handful of wireless carriers, including Nextel Communications Inc. in parts of North Carolina, T-Mobile International, Vodafone Group plc., Cellular One of Amarillo and Aloha Partners, have trialed Flarion’s technology.
