BuddeComm's latest Scandinavia Annual Publication, 2007 Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Scandinavia, profiles the latest market developments in five countries which continue to be in the top tier in Europe for technological development and usage.

With Iceland's incumbent opening a 3G network in October 2007, all Scandinavian countries have now deployed some of Europe's fastest mobile broadband technologies. Nokia has also used the region to trial its innovative mobile user generated content services. The region also has one of Europe's most concentrated municipal fibre deployments, despite topographical difficulties, which are spurring take-up of triple play services. In digital broadcasting, Sweden and Finland had completed analogue switchover by October 2007, while most of the Danish population could receive all four digital multiplexes by August and Norway was prepared to launch national digital services in January 2008, with 95% geographic coverage.

Sweden's incumbent TeliaSonera bowed to regulator pressure for functional separation, having agreed to establish a new fully-owned infrastructure subsidiary covering copper and fibre networks and multiplexing. The move will further increase competition in the broadband sector, reducing prices and favouring stronger consumer take-up for fast connections in coming years.

This report presents a concise overview of the telecoms sector in Scandinavia, the development of product offerings for both mobile and broadband technologies, essential operator statistics, and the growth of convergence, triple play and digital TV.

Key Highlights
Síminn opened Iceland's first 3G network in October 2007, promising 60% population coverage by mid-2009 and offering download speeds at up to 7.2Mb/s. The development marks an ambitious investment for this small market, and brings the country into line with 3G deployments elsewhere in Scandinavia. For more information, see chapter 3.8.3.3, page 97.
Nordisk Mobiltelefon launched a commercial CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Rev A network in Norway in October 2007 using the 450MHz band, the first of its type in the world. A similar launch is planned for Sweden, while Finland is also using the 450MHz band to provide wireless broadband. For more information, see chapter 4.8.3.2.1, page 134.
Sweden's switch-over to digital TV was completed in October 2007, ahead of the original February 2008 schedule and before many European countries begin the process. For more information, see chapter 5.7.5.2, page 171.
Competition in the mobile sector remains strong with a growing number of new resellers, though their overall market share remains low. For more information, see chapter 5.8.4.5, page 190.
Triple play services are beginning to reach mass market appeal on the back of upgraded fibre and ADSL2+ / VDSL networks, coupled with greater customer awareness of bundled products. Including VoIP, Video-on-Demand and IPTV. For more information, see chapter 5.7.3, page 169.
Scandinavia also enjoys some of the highest broadband penetration levels in Europe, with Iceland leading the world, closely followed by Sweden and Denmark, both of which have effective regulatory backing and strong involvement from municipal governments. For more information, see chapter 1.6.1.2, page 16.
Scandinavian broadband penetration

Country Penetration Household penetration
Denmark 32% 69%
Iceland 33% 70%
Norway 26% 66%
Sweden 27% 61%
Finland 28% 62%

(Source: BuddeComm 2007 Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Europe report, Scandinavia)

For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on this region, this report is essential reading and gives further information on:

Mobile TV developments and their impact on mobile data use generally in the region;
The triple play format reaching into homes, stimulated by higher bandwidth connections and altering domestic entertainment habits and concepts;
Digital switchover and the impact on broadcasters and content;
The changing face of converged media with widespread triple play services becoming a standard feature in homes.