Press Release: EIB promotes R&D with EUR 250 million in various EU countries

The European Investment Bank promoted R&D activity in Finland with a EUR 250 million loan to Nokia Siemens Networks for the next development of Radio Access Network technology. EIB Vice-President Eva Srejber stated: 'The EIB attaches particular importance to the development of a knowledge-based economy in the Union, which assures the long-term growth of European economies. We are happy to assist such promising initiatives.' The loan was for investments in R&D to develop the hardware as well as the software platform for the implementation of Radio Access Network (RAN) technology for mobile communication systems. The project aimed at developing technology which will allow mobile telecommunication operators to use a single Base Station platform for their second Generation (2G), third Generation (3G) and Long Term Evolution (LTE, the evolution beyond 3G) networks. The R&D activity under this project will take place in Finland, Poland, Germany and Italy.