Elisa Communications and Nokia bring wireless high-speed DSL internet access to Greater Helsinki, Finland

With the exciting combination of Wireless LAN and high-speed DSL technologies, Elisa Communications announced that they will begin offering wireless high-speed Internet access to homes in the greater Helsinki area of Finland. Based on Nokia broadband DSL infrastructure and WLAN/DSL home gateway products, end users in Helsinki will benefit from both always-on, high capacity internet access, and increased wireless mobility within the home and similar fixed locations.

Nokia have previously supplied Elisa Communications with the complete end-to-end Broadband IP Access solution which is augmented with the Nokia MW1122 home gateways, providing wireless connectivity within the home or other fixed locations, and always-on high-speed DSL connections.

'"Wireless home networking will bring the Internet to every corner of the home, bringing new services and related appliances that will allow mobility even in fixed locations. The ability to move around one's home through wireless connections while still being connected to the high-speed Internet is one of the first steps on the road to a truly mobile information society " says Hanno Narjus, Director, Sales and Market Creation, Nokia Home Communications.

“We see Nokia as an important partner not only in telecommunications equipment but also in home networking products. Home networking is one of most intresting new emerging business opportunities for us” states Juha Malmberg, Director, Elisa Communications.

The Nokia home gateway works as a hub for the home network. It provides high-speed access via, for example, a DSL line for multiple users to the Internet and such services as e-mail, shopping lists, family calendars and digital photo albums. With Wireless Lan connectivity, users can connect to these high-speed services using mobile internet displays and TVs, in addition to PCs.

Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. The company is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, Nokia's net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 55 000 people.


Further information:

Communications Department
Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 9 5113 8193
Fax + 358 9 5113 8199

www.nokia.com