Finland's largest cell phone operator, Sonera, will launch a third-generation network in Finland on Sept. 26, the same day that Nokia introduces its first 3G handset, the company said Friday.

The network, which has been in test use since January, will initially be available in the four largest cities of Helsinki, Tampere, Turku and Oulu, Sonera said.

Networks using third-generation technology, also known as the Universal Mobile Telephone System, offer transmission speeds nearly 40 times greater than existing standards and provide access to Internet services, video and e-mail.

Earlier this month, Nokia, the world's largest cell phone maker, said that it will launch its first 3G mobile handset on Sept. 26, but it has not released details.

Sonera has 2.4 million cell phone subscriptions, or more than 60 percent of the total in the sparsely populated nation of 5 million.

Radiolinja, with 35 percent of the country's cell phone subscribers, opened 3G networks in some cities earlier this year.

DNA, a smaller service provider, also opened a fast network for prospective users this year, while Swedish-based Telia started its UMTS network in Finland in December.