Nokia Siemens Networks has been picked by Finnish mobile operator Elisa to supply LTE network equipment for the first phase of its network. Elisa  would open the service to the public when there are more LTE devices available, according to Reuters. 

"For a large roll-out its clear we have not made a final decision on the provider. Certainly Nokia Siemens is in a better position thanks to this deal," Timo Katajisto, director of production at Elisa, told Reuters.

Elisa is a leading provider of communications services in the Nordic countries, and  also has operations in the Baltic countries and Russia.

Last year Elisa and Nokia Siemens Networks worked together to roll out the nationwide 3G coverage and upgrade Elisa’s network to High Speed Packet Access Evolution (HSPA+). Nokia Siemens Networks supplied Flexi Base Stations (BTS), high capacity RNC 2600 radio network controllers and maintenance services.

TeliaSonera, the first operator in the world to offer LTE, also has gained a 4G foothold in Finland late last year. The operator said at the time that it aimed to open the Finnish 4G network for the first pilot customer during the first quarter of 2010.