3 and Tele2 top mobile broadband providers

Mobile operators 3 and Tele 2 have the best coverage for mobile broadband in Sweden, according to a new test by monthly magazine Mobil.

• Mobiles overtake fixed lines in Sweden (21 May 10)
• Ericsson predicts mobile broadband boom (5 May 10)
• Sweden has Europe's 2nd fastest broadband: report (15 Jan 10)

However, Telia is still the best when it comes to voice calls, according to the survey. Mobil has conducted a thorough comparison of Swedish network coverage across the country for the last 10 years.

"Mobil's large coverage test has never been smoother," wrote Mobil's Erik Mörner.

This year, 3 was once again on top, but this time sharing a first-place tie with Tele2 after leading the survey for three years.

"We thought that we would win, so I'm not surprised, perhaps a bit surprised that Tele2 muscled in, according to the survey," 3 CEO Peder Ramel told Mobil. "This is nothing we have seen in our own tests."

Telia narrowly scored the highest figures for the best voice calls in the country.

Mobil determined that the differences between the four operators tested, 3, Tele2, Telenor and Telia, are small. Overall, 3 and Tele2 topped the magazine's mobile broadband network coverage test.

Tele2 performed consistently well throughout Sweden, while 3 was clearly the best in Stockholm and Gothenburg.

"We have undertaken a number of internal measures in a bid to improve our core network and surrounding systems," Tele2 CEO Niclas Palmstierna told Mobil. "It is great that our efforts have yielded an impact even in independent tests"

The study also included a test on the trains around Sweden, in which 3 was the winner. Measurements were made on the routes between Stockholm-Malmo, Stockholm, Sundsvall and Stockholm and Gothenburg.

Mobil conducted the test with the help of thousands of calls from across the country and equipment from Ascom. From northern Kiruna to southern Ystad, Mobil's test car travelled across the country to find out which operators were best.

Telia has traditionally dominated in northern Norrland and did it again this year, while Tele2 was close behind. Telia was best for both voice and data in northern Norrland, while Tele2 was best in voice and mobile broadband in southern Norrland.

In the western part of the country, Telenor had the best results for voice and Tele2 for mobile broadband. Southern Sweden included Malmö and Lund, where 3 had the strongest coverage for voice calls and Telia was superior for mobile broadband.