We believe that telecommunication services contribute to a world of better opportunities by helping more societies to become digitally inclusive. Responding to local needs and challenges, communication technologies are a positive force for openness and transparency leading to growth and economic development.
Generating value and stimulating growth
TeliaSonera’s services are available for 167 million people in 15 countries where our wholly or majority-owned companies operate. Our objective is to be a long-term investor and a good corporate citizen in the communities where we operate. Our low-carbon services enable sustainable economic growth and a more inclusive society.
TeliaSonera offers direct employment for around 29,000 people, not including the indirect job opportunities along the value chain. Our impact on societies is fundamental in various aspects, not least in the building of the information society.
We believe that communications technologies are drivers of growth and economic development as well as a positive force for openness and transparency. The relatively low penetration of fixed telephony in emerging markets represents a growth opportunity for TeliaSonera, and at the same time we can support these countries’ journey to the information society as the leap directly to the opportunities that mobile networks can offer.
Towards digital inclusion
TeliaSonera is committed to bridging the digital divide with infrastructure and services. We support initiatives to promote digital literacy and sustainable development of local communities. We believe it makes society stronger when all citizens can connect to and benefit from the digital community. By expanding the coverage of our services and bringing expertise and low cost solutions to our markets we contribute to improving the digital inclusion.
Recognizing the positive societal aspects of telecommunication services, the gap between those who have access to global information and communication networks and those who have not exists in mature as well as emerging markets.
Expanding coverage across our markets
To improve network coverage TeliaSonera invests heavily in both mobile and fixed infrastructure, expanding coverage where people live, work, travel and spend their leisure time.
Our 2G generation networks cover 100 percent of the population in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania and Estonia. Our 3G network coverage varies from around 80 percent in Norway, Denmark and in Lithuania to up to 98.5 percent in Sweden. By upgrading to 4G in our mobile networks we are pioneers in speeding up the mobile data services to up to 100Mbit/s or ten times the speed of 3G. We currently have commercially available services in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Estonia.
In Eurasia, our coverage keeps expanding as our operations grow. Today, our mobile coverage ranges from 73 percent of the population in Nepal to 80 percent in Kazakhstan and over 99 percent in Azerbaijan, Georgia and North Tajikistan. We offer 3G services in Georgia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova and Nepal.
Coverage in less populated areas is also important. TeliaSonera has several on-going improvements in these areas: for instance, we can supplement the upgrade of fixed networks by upgrading to 3G or by building mobile coverage instead of fixed networks in the first place.
Affordable services are important to enable digital inclusion and to enhance digital equality. Responding to the different conditions and shifting economic situations of our customers, we operate with many price levels to make services affordable across our markets. We have low cost brands and pre-paid subscriptions in all of our markets, and were the first low-cost brand in the Spanish market with Yoigo.
Our response to emergencies and disasters
TeliaSonera assists rescue work and disaster relief in cases of major catastrophes, for instance flooding in the countries where we operate. In Eurasia, most of our companies have mobile base stations that can be set up in areas affected by disaster. The networks are designed in such a way that traffic can be re-routed through alternative network nodes. We develop and uphold robustness to withstand disturbances and preparedness to recover from possible disasters.
In emergencies, we contribute in various ways to allow people to stay connected and facilitate the flow of important information. During recent disasters, we have sent SMS alerts to our customers, offered free phones and free call minutes to affected people, reduced the operator share of vaule added SMS support messages and offered free communications to our customers located in disaster areas.
Relations with authorities and governments
We work in close collaboration with international and national governmental authorities, law enforcement and social organizations to help local communities. In our industry, governments contol operator licenses, frequencies and other prerequisites for operations. While engaging with governments and authorities is a regular part of the group’s business, TeliaSonera always observes fair business practices and acts in accordance with strict standards to avoid any inappropriate advantages and uphold fair competition.
We do not engage in the politics of the countries in which we operate, and have a policy of not making political donations. We do, however, actively engage in dialogue on regulations that affect our business, with the objective to promote a regulatory environment that is stable and foreseeable, encourages investments and innovation, and promotes equal opportunity and innovation.
In Eurasia we participate actively in promoting modern and transparent telecommunication laws and regulation, helping to level the playing field and create fair conditions for all market participants. In Eurasia we regularly engage with regulators in a fair and transparent manner, sharing experiences and opinions. Non-involvement in politics is crucial in maintaining our integrity.
Mobile devices, masts and health
Mobile services depend on a network of base stations. Stakeholders are consulted and health concerns and visual implications are discussed before locations of mast sites are determined.
The practices of engaging with local communities in decisions on locations of base station may vary by country, as the differences in local planning legislation need to be taken into account. In every country, we fulfil the requirements as set by local authorities.
Whenever possible, we share the location of masts and base stations with other mobile-operators to reduce environmental impact and costs and thus the total number of base stations needed. Two thirds of our base station sites are located on shared sites or sites placed on existing structures, such as high buildings, electricity towers or highway lighting poles. When base stations sites are built in new locations, we reduce the visual impact for example by enclosing wires in a tube of the same color as the surroundings, for minimal visual impact.
EMF concerns
We recognize the increasing awareness and concerns related to exposure from electromagnetic fields due to the increased number of mobile terminals and base stations. We cooperate with authorities, associations and organizations, and support independent research in this area. TeliaSonera has a public EMF policy, and follow the EMF norms issued by WHO and the United Nations to ensure human health and safety.
TeliaSonera acts according to the EU Directives and Council Recommendations on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields. All base stations provided to TeliaSonera by its suppliers must comply with ICNIRP guidelines.
TeliaSonera is strongly committed to supporting ongoing scientific research, both directly and via GSM A. This particular project is funded by the mobile phone industry jointly with governments and national health agencies to ensure the complete scientific independence of the work carried out.
Community projects in Eurasia and the Baltics
TeliaSonera Eurasia companies are among the major contributors to the economy and infrastructure development in their respective countries. Historically, being pioneers in many aspects of the business culture and environment, we have taken the lead in supporting and developing a much wider range of areas than just telecommunications, with high relevance to the local context. To mention just a few examples, we have contributed:
- Social projects for the most vulnerable in the society
- Education and training
- Healthcare
- Cultural events
- Revival of local traditions; restoration of objects of national architectural and arts heritage
- Sports and sports facilities developments
Read more about our role in and commitments to society in the Corporate Responsiblity report 2010