United Group, the leading provider of telecommunications services and media in Southeast Europe, announced on Tuesday that it has selected Nokia to support its rollout of a next-generation fibre network across Southeast Europe, bringing new ultra-broadband and 10Gbps services to millions of additional residential and business users.

Dutch-based United Group – whose telecommunications brands include Telemach, Vivacom, SBB, and Nova – said it expected to spend more than EUR 500 million over the next five years to extend its fibre network into new areas and upgrade existing ones with 10Gbps enabled infrastructure based on XGS-PON.

Nokia will also supply WiFi-mesh-enabled equipment for a superior wireless internet experience in the home, including with remote working, gaming, online TV, video streaming, and downloading content across multiple devices. Other features allow real-time monitoring of in-home networks and further optimisation of WiFi settings network-wide.

United Group Vice President Technology Zeljko Batistic: “As the region’s leading telecom serving a market of 40 million people, United Group is committed to investing in the most advanced technology in order to deliver our users the most innovative products and services and the best customer experience.”
Batistić added: “We’re also helping to secure Southeast Europe’s digital future by guaranteeing our next-generation network – already the region’s largest – is ready to support the future needs of our users both at home and their places of business.”

Nokia Vice President and General Manager of Fixed Networks Division Sandy Motley: “We are looking forward to working together on United Group’s new phase of growth as its preferred fibre access network equipment provider. With our FTTH and WiFi solution, we are able to provide a high-speed, reliable network infrastructure and an unmatched in-home WiFi experience that will meet United Group’s subscribers needs today and in the future.”

United Group’s broadband network is the region’s fastest thanks to continuous investments. Among other awards, its network in Slovenia was recently named ‘Best in Test’ for the second year in a row by independent research house Umlaut. United Group is committed to maintaining investments to further solidify its leadership in existing and future markets.

Operating in both the telecommunications and media sectors, the United Group platform combines the leading operators and best content producers in Southeast Europe. The company is active in eight countries and has approximately 11 million users and 12,500 employees.