Tele2 and Telenor secure new frequencies and consolidate joint plan for 5G network in Sweden
Stockholm – Tele2 AB (Tele2) (Nasdaq Stockholm: TEL2 A and TEL2 B) and Telenor have signed a new complementary agreement for the expansion of a joint and nationwide 5G network in Sweden. The parties have agreed on the details of the implementation, which is scheduled to be initiated in the second half of 2019. Furthermore, Tele2 and Telenor have secured frequencies in the 700MHz spectrum that will strengthen the established 4G network and consolidate the ambition to provide the first customers with 5G access by 2020.
According to Tele2’s and Telenor's updated plan, the shared mobile network will be expanded by more than 50 percent, resulting in thousands of new base stations across Sweden. This is valuable for the already established 4G network and ensures the joint plan to provide the first customers with access to 5G functionality by 2020. 5G roll-out will commence in the major cities of Sweden, followed by significant summer and winter resorts. During spring 2019, a detailed plan for the country will be published and updated continuously, as construction starts in each region and municipality.
– The mobile network is the backbone of Tele2 and we are proud of what our fast and secure network will enable for our customers. We will continue to invest to continually increase the quality for our customers, and the new frequency is valuable for that work going forward. Thanks to a well-established 4G network, we can secure a fast and flexible roll-out of 5G and other new technologies improving coverage and capacity, says Thomas Björklund, Executive Vice President Mobile Technology at Tele2.
The new complementary agreement to build 5G in Sweden is the next step in Tele2's and Telenor's network collaboration. The parties announced the joint ambitions of a nationwide 5G network in 2016. After having built a national 2G and 4G network together that today covers 99.9 percent of Sweden's population, the new agreement provides a good foundation for the forthcoming 5G expansion.
– Our 5G expansion is both aggressive and ambitious, which we are very proud of. The nationwide 5G network will provide even better coverage, faster connection, reduced latency and higher capacity, which is a prerequisite for the increasing number of devices. At the same time, our investments continue to strengthen the existing 4G network in the country, says Stefan Jäverbring, CTO at Telenor Sweden.
About the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority’s (PTS) 700 MHz auction
Tele2 and Telenor won 2x10 MHz in the 700 MHz auction for 22 years (until December 31, 2040), to a sum of SEK 1,442 million. https://www.pts.se/sv/nyheter/radio/2018/forsta-steget-i-auktionen-i-700-mhz-bandet-avslutat/
About Net4Mobility
In 2009, Telenor Sweden and Tele2 formed the joint company Net4Mobility, in order to build and operate a national 2G and 4G network together. As a result of the cooperation, the companies were first in Sweden to provide a nationwide 4G network, which today covers 90 percent of Sweden and over 99.9 percent of Sweden's population.
Press contacts
Louise Ekman, Head of B2C Communications, Tele2, +46 70 5222 117 / louise.ekman@tele2.com
Joel Ibson, Head of Corporate Communications, Tele2, +46 76 6264 400 / joel.ibson@tele2.com
Erik Strandin Pers, Head of Investor Relations, Tele2, +46 733 41 41 88 / erik.pers@tele2.com
This information is information that Tele2 AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 16:10 CET on December 10, 2018.
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TELE2’S MISSION IS TO FEARLESSLY LIBERATE PEOPLE TO LIVE A MORE CONNECTED LIFE. We believe the connected life is a better life, and so our aim is to make connectivity increasingly accessible to our customers, no matter where or when they need it. Ever since Jan Stenbeck founded the company in 1993, it has been a tough challenger to the former government monopolies and other established providers. Tele2 offers mobile services, fixed broadband and telephony, data network services, content services and global IoT solutions. Every day our 17 million customers across eight countries enjoy a fast and wireless experience through our award winning networks. Tele2 has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 1996. In 2017, Tele2 generated revenue of SEK 25 billion and reported an adjusted EBITDA of SEK 6.4 billion. For definitions of measures, please see the last pages of the Annual Report 2017. Follow @Tele2group on Twitter for the latest updates.
November 5, 2018, Tele2 successfully merged with the Com Hem Group, a leading supplier of broadband, TV, play and telephony services in Sweden with 1.45 million customers. In 2017, the Com Hem Group generated revenue of SEK 7.1 billion. The combined company will publish its first consolidated interim report in February 2019.