The Swedish Local Fibre Alliance (Svenska Stadsnätsföreningen) is a non-profit-making trade association for network owners who are actively engaged in the development of a broadband infrastructure. The Swedish Local Fibre Alliance was established in 1998 and soon attracted about a hundred members.
Members are local authorities and companies which own or operate communication networks that are accessible to everyone. The Swedish Local Fibre Alliance also has members in the operator and supplier areas of the telecommunications and data communications sector. Close contact between the different players in the sector is important to be able to offer end users a good network content.
Rapid development is challenging. The aim of the Swedish Local Fibre Alliance is to make it easier for its members to meet the challenges facing them in all areas. The development of telemedicine by the National Health Service, the expansion of the public sector into a 24-hour agency, the intelligent home and the country's colleges and universities are different examples of organizations which require an infrastructure with a very high capacity to function satisfactorily. The growth of mobile communications is also dependent on the existence of an optical fibre infrastructure which links the base stations together. The aim of the Swedish Local Fibre Alliance is jointly to provide a sound infrastructure for the benefit of the whole of Sweden. An infrastructure that is constructed essentially with optical fibre cable technology, but also includes radio links and copper cables. The networks of the members of Swedish Local Fibre Alliance are on the way to achieve nationwide coverage and consist of networks of all types, backbone networks, regional networks, and access networks.
The Swedish Local Fibre Alliance looks after:
The interests of network owners where there is a need to work towards an alternative, independent infrastructure for the telecommunications and data communications market. The intention is for this to stimulate competition between service providers in all parts of the country.
The interests of network owners in its capacity as an advisory body on legislation and standardization questions.
developments within technology and the telecommunication market.
The Swedish Local Fibre Alliance also offers its members the opportunity to exchange experiences on matters such as operation and maintenance, operating reliability, and documentation.
The members jointly possess considerable knowledge of broadband questions, not least about the locations of the active networks and how they can be utilized most effectively.
The members jointly have considerable experience of how active networks function, how questions relating to the market must be approached and how the existing network structure must be harmonized and coordinated in the best interests of large and small users.
The members jointly possess major resources in the form of networks over both short and long distances. When harmonized, these networks provide communications links for all needs.
The Swedish Local Fibre Alliance shares the view that the existence of a well-dimensioned fibre optic network for telecommunications and data communications is of critical significance to Sweden's competitiveness and its potential for economic growth. That is why the members of the Swedish Local Fibre Alliance will continue to develop Sweden's broadband infrastructure in association with each another.
The Swedish Local Fibre Alliance, which is one of the most important players on market today, has also initiated cooperation with the other Nordic countries. The intention is to facilitate the exchange of experiences and cross-border cooperation on various levels.
