The 1990īs
BackThe 1990s
Emergence of broadband networks. The sector is finally deregulated.
The interconnection service of LANs, LanLink, was implemented in 1990, and two years later HPY introduced IN services (Intelligent Network). IN capacities facilitate fast implementation of advanced, customised services without requiring making any changes in the software of the switches.
Finnet Nine Ltd was founded in 1991. The company was granted a licence in 1992. Competition in long-distance calls commenced and the trunk network monopoly of the state ended at the end of 1994. Finnet Nine Ltd penetrated a half of the long-distance call market and the prices of long-distance calls sank by over 50 per cent.
Free competition extended to almost all sectors of telecommunications. Through its subsidiaries and associated companies, HPY entered the territories of wireless communications and international calls. The world's first GSM call was made on the Radiolinja network in 1991.
1990
The Soviet Union ceased to exist. The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Finland and the Soviet Union became void in 1992. Estonia declared independence in 1991.
Helsinki Telephone Association was issued a licence for telecommunications between Helsinki and Tallinn.
1993
Finnet International was granted a licence for international telephony. Competition commenced on 1 July 1994.
The state monopoly in international calls ended after 130 years.
The national SDH network was implemented in 1994. An SDH connection (Synchronic Digital Hierarchy) is a transmission connection based on fibre cable technology and can reach 2 Gbps at the maximum.
1994
The world's first DECT network was constructed in Porvoo and Helsinki. In the same year a broadband data transmission technology, ATM (ATM= Asynchronous Transfer Mode), was implemented.
Text messages and data services enter GSM phones.
The first broadband ADSL subscriptions were installed (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line).
HPY started Kolumbus Internet services. The Internet density and GSM penetration of Finland ranked number one in the world. The Internet spread like wildfire when the World Wide Web became public in 1993.
During 1995-1998, HPY participated in an extensive national multimedia project.
1996
Construction of digital exchanges, which began in the early 1980's, was completed. The original schedule was to digitise the telephone network by 2007. The project was finished as early as in 1996
Towards the stock exchange
Along with the expansion of the Internet, the sales of ISDN started to soar in 1997. In the same year a multimedia network was constructed in the Helsinki metropolitan area, and the commercial provision of broadband ADSL subscriptions mainly for teleworking applications was initiated.
Helsinki Telephone was the first one to introduce a wireless handset based on the GSM 1800 technology. The handset for city use was called Cityphone.
Helsinki Telephone raised its share capital through a share issue, aimed at the members and employees of Helsinki Telephone Association, during the period of 12 September – 23 October 1997.
In November 1997, Helsinki Telephone Corporation was listed on the Helsinki Exchanges. Helsinki Telephone Association was the company's biggest shareholder with its 85 per cent stake.
1998
The video phone services of the Arena multimedia network and the virtual meeting place of the Arena Glass Palace were launched.
Oy Radiolinja Ab and FinnetCom became subsidiaries of Helsinki Telephone Corporation in 1998.
On 5-16 June 1998, Helsinki Telephone Corporation raised its share capital and Helsinki Telephone Association sold the Helsinki Telephone Corporation E shares it owned through a share offering and a disposal of shares.
Tampere Telephone Plc became Helsinki Telephone Corporation's associated company. By the end of 1998, Helsinki Telephone's holding in the company was 20.6 per cent.
Mäkitorppa Yhtiöt Oy and Oy Radiolinja Ab acquired the entire share capital of Setele Oy. Mäkitorppa Yhtiöt Oy has a 62 per cent holding and Oy Radiolinja Ab has the remaining 38 per cent. Helsinki Telephone Corporation bought 20.5 per cent of the share capital of Keski-Suomen Puhelin Oy. Keski-Suomen Puhelin went public in September 1998.
1999
Mäkitorppa Yhtiöt founded the subsidiary Mäkitorppa GmbH in Germany, which opened its first stores in 1999.
On 18 March, Radiolinja was issued a licence for constructing a third-generation mobile network in Finland. On 7 July, Radiolinja bought the Radiojätti chain.
On 7 October, Helsinki Telephone and Finnet International established a company named Finnish International Telecommunications GmbH in Germany, which began offering long-distance and international calls in the German market.
Comptel Ltd was listed on the Helsinki Exchanges in November.