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TeliaSonera has launched the world’s first fourth-generation wireless service.



This comes ahead of the USA's Verizon and Japan's NTT, who are both preparing their own 4G networks.



The 4G service will be limited to parts of Stockholm and Oslo, where it will offer mobile broadband 10 times faster than 3G technology does.



Equipment suppliers like Ericsson and Huawei of China are battling for the rights to build the next generation of mobile networks. TeliaSonera has split the rights for this deal - Ericsson will take Stockholm and Huawei will take Oslo. Another contract will be awarded in January for the next stage of the network development.



Huawei this year became the the world’s third-largest network equipment maker after Ericsson and Nokia, pushing Alcatel-Lucent back to 4th place. Huawei also won a huge contract with Telenor last month for its domestic network in Norway.



TeliaSonera's head of mobile services, Kenneth Karlberg, says that the company's decision for the January contract will be based on price and quality, with no local favouritism for Ericsson.