[Domestic carrier Telia loses out in 3G licensing and plans to appeal the decision.]

by Peter Starck, Stockholm -- "Sweden awarded third-generation (3G), or UMTS, mobile phone network licenses on Saturday, saying cellphone users all over Sweden would be able to access the Internet on the move within three years.

"The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) surprisingly rejected a bid by national operator Telia -- a decision that could hit the company's share price on Monday.

"The PTS gave licenses to Telia's domestic rivals Europolitan , part of Britain's Vodafone Group Plc, and Tele2, the cellular arm of Netcom which bid together with Societe Europeene de Communication.

"The Orange consortium made up of the mobile arm of France Telecom, a joint venture between Bredbandsbolaget and Internet firm Framtidsfabriken, Skanska, NTL and Schibsted also won a license.

"The fourth went to the Hi3G Access group made up of Investor and Hutchison Whampoa. Hutchison earlier this year won 3G licenses in Britain, Italy and Austria.

"Within three years, 99.98 percent of Sweden will have UMTS-coverage," Swedish Industry Minister Mona Sahlin said.

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