Finnish WLAN Operators 
Launch Wi-Fi Roaming Service

With roaming service, wireless broadband subscribers 
can access eight citywide WLAN networks in Finland

    A group of seven Finnish citywide WLAN network operators today announced that they will offer roaming services in their networks from the beginning of 2004. Roaming enables current subscribers to utilize their wireless Internet connection in all networks included in the roaming agreement. The agreement will initially cover eight cities in Finland with a combined population of over 400,000: Hamina (operated by Haminan Energia), Lahti (Suomen 4G), Mäntsälä (Mäntsälän Sähkö), Porvoo (Porvoon Energia), Rauma (Rauman Energia), Vaasa and the Leppävaara area in Espoo (Netsafir) as well as Vantaa (Vantaan Energia). The technology for the roaming service is provided by the WiFi Hotzone technology supplier Radionet.

    "Roaming in citywide WLAN networks works in the same way as in cellular networks. For example, a customer of Porvoo's network has the same wireless broadband internet access when visiting Vantaa," said Radionet's director of sales and marketing Henry Valtonen.

    The roaming agreement initially includes seven operators, and the coalition is looking to expand the roaming agreement to include new members domestically and abroad.

    "We believe that roaming will be one of the key factors for the success of Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, we are inviting new members to join the roaming agreement and also welcome internet service providers as well as other broadband and mobile operators," said product manager Marko Heinsola from Vantaan Energia.

By Robert Hoskins

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