DNA

Company Overview

DNA is the third largest mobile network operator in Finland. The company was formed in 1999 as Finnet, a cooperative of 40 local telephone companies. These companies gradually transformed into the Group's mobile communication operations company, DNA Finland Ltd.

In 2001, DNA changed from a mobile communication operator into a major telecommunications company. The current DNA Group began operating on 1 July 2007, when DNA Plc's business operations merged with those of six telephone companies. Alongside its mobile communication business, the company obtained a strong fixed-network business, including voice, data, cable TV and security services for both households and companies.

In April 2019 Telenor Group announced it had entered into agreements to acquire a 54% controlling stake in DNA Finland from Finda Telecoms Oy and PHP Holding Oy, which held 28.3% and 25.8% of the shares in the company, respectively.

The company provides 2G GSM services over 900 and 1800 MHz, and launched 3G UMTS services in February 2007 over the B1 (2100 MHz) band. Rural and regional service was extended in October 2008 with the activation of a B8 (900 MHz) 3G service. The network was upgraded to DC-HSPA+ in May 2011.

DNA commercially activated its 4G LTE network in December 2011 using B3 (1800 MHz) and B7 (2600 MHz) for inner urban areas. B20 (800 MHz) LTE was launched January 2014, and later B28 (700 MHz) in February 2017. DNA began conducting LTE-A trials in March 2015, achieving peak data rates up to 270 Mbps. LTE-A was commercially launched in May that year, providing a 300 Mbps network using 2C CA (B3+B7), and later 375 Mbps with 3C CA (B3+B7+B20). 

600 Mbps LTE-A Pro was debuted in May 2016 using 3C CA (B1+B3+B20) with 256QAM modulation. Peak data rates hit the 1 Gbps mark in May 2017 with the network receiving its first upgrades to 4X4 MIMO.

In August 2014 DNA and TeliaSonera announced a joint venture company (Suomen Yhteisverkko Oy) to build a joint 4G LTE network to cover Finland’s sparsely populated geographical area in the north and east. LTE B20 (10 + 10 MHz) is pooled by the networks to provide a high capacity long range network.

DNA IoT

Rollout of DNA's NB-IoT network began May 2017, with first commercial usage reported in February 2018. DNA utilises Band 20 (800 MHz) as its primary NB-IoT network, reverting to B3 in areas without B20 coverage.

DNA 5G

DNA remained comparatively quiet on its 5G development until May 2018 when it announced its network backbone was being upgraded in preparation of 5G. The first timeline was given in October 2018 when it disclosed that its 5G network would launch at the beginning of 2019. The company officially launched its 5G network in January 2019, using n78 (3500 MHz) spectrum awarded in the country's September 2018 auction - noting DNA secured a contiguous 130 MHz block, from 3670 to 3800 MHz.

DNA's 5G network was initially launched in Helsinki, with a pilot program also announced for Vantaa.