OREANDA-NEWS. December 24, 2012. Two years ago, EMT launched the first 4G network in Estonia. TeliaSonera had launched the world's first 4G network to its customers in Sweden and Norway one year earlier; EMT’s network was the 11th of its kind in the world.

Tiit Tammiste, EMT’s head of technology division, said that the company set an unofficial world record in network launch by rolling it out in 6 minutes after the license was received. „We had tested the network thoroughly before receiving the license, so we really only had to turn the network on.”

EMT’s 4G covers 35 percent of Estonia and is available to 70 percent of the country’s population. The ultra-fast mobile network will be available throughout the whole country by the end of 2014.

Today, 4G accounts for more than 50 percent of all EMT’s new mobile data subscriptions.

The 4G technology allows for speeds up to 100 Mbps, actual speeds are in the range of 20 to 60 Mbps. Maximum upload speed is up to 50 Mbps, average speed is 5 - 20 Mbps. LTE has also significantly smaller latency making 4G suitable for live broadcasting and video streaming.

Several media channels and event organizers have used 4G to broadcast events live, for example, RS:X Youth European Windsurfing Championships held in Pirita in July this year could be viewed via Delfi.ee, and EMT Rullituur, a series of inline speed skating events, was also broadcasted over internet.

EMT’s 4G has been available for modems and routers for two years. In January 2013, the high-speed network will also become available to customers using smartphones.