The Swedish National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) monitors the development of the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network. On December 16 2000 it granted licences to the following four companies:
- Europolitan AB;
- Tele2 AB;
- Orange Sweden AB; and
- HI3G Access AB.
These companies must report to PTS on how their work progresses. According to PTS's latest report on the development of the UMTS networks, the operators have so far fulfilled their commitments under the agreements made when the licences were granted. The operators now have small but effective networks, which means that they have fulfilled the promises made when the UMTS network was introduced in Sweden.
As mentioned in the Overview (October 2001) the former Swedish public telephone operator and the largest telecommunications company in Scandinavia, Telia AB, was not granted a licence by PTS. Telia immediately appealed the decision to the county administrative court. At the same time it formed a partnership with one of the other licensees, Tele2, so that it could take part in the extension of the UMTS network. In its decision of June 27 2001 the court rejected Telia's claim and found no reason to change PTS's decision. As a consequence of its partnership with Tele2, Telia chose not to appeal the county administrative court's decision.
For further information on this topic please contact Rolf Olofsson or Anna Karin Pettersson at White & Case Advokat AB by telephone (+46 8 506 32300) or by fax (+46 8 611 21 22) or by email ([email protected] or [email protected]).