The European Investment Bank promotes R&D activity in Finland with a EUR 250 million loan to Nokia Siemens Networks for the next development of Radio Access Network technology.
EIB Vice-President Eva Srejber stated: “The EIB attaches particular importance to the development of a knowledge-based economy in the Union, which assures the long-term growth of European economies. We are happy to assist such promising initiatives “.
The loan is for investments in R&D to develop the hardware as well as the software platform for the implementation of Radio Access Network (RAN) technology for mobile communication systems. The project aims at developing technology which will allow mobile telecommunication operators to use a single Base Station platform for their second Generation (2G), third Generation (3G) and Long Term Evolution (LTE, the evolution beyond 3G) networks. The R&D activity under this project will take place in Finland, Poland, Germany and Italy.
The development of a multi-mode platform will allow the cost-efficient roll-out of mobile broadband telecommunication services. The move towards such a cost-efficient multi-mode platform (Single RAN) that can be used to provide existing services today and can later be easily upgraded to the next development of mobile telecommunication technologies is a necessity for mobile broadband operators. Multi-mode Radio Access Equipment is also a key requirement for developments in the field of mobile telecommunications, the so-called frequency re-farming. Frequency re-farming relates to the use of new technologies in GSM frequencies, such as UMTS today and LTE in the future. Regulatory steps are being undertaken to allow this in the near future.
Background information:
The European Investment Bank is the EU's long-term financing institution, founded by the Treaty of Rome in 1958. Its mission is to support through its activities the development of EU policies. To that end, it borrows its funds on the capital markets in order to finance on the keenest terms projects that are in line with EU strategies. In 2008, the EIB made available EUR 51.5bn in support of projects located in the European Union.
EIB financing contributes primarily towards economic and social cohesion, environmental protection, support for SMEs, the development of trans-European transport and energy networks and the promotion of sustainable, competitive and safe energy, as well as research and innovation, This last objective is a priority to which the EIB devoted EUR 12.4bn in 2008, of which EUR 7.1bn for R&D. The Bank supported such investment in most EU countries. projects, representing a commitment that has tripled over the past two years.
In the five-year period 2004-2008, the European Investment Bank provided a total of EUR 3.6bn for projects in Finland. Industry and services, with 30% of EIB total lending in Finland over the last five years, mainly for the knowledge economy, and in particular research and development activities, accounted for the lion’s share of EIB activity in the period.