Elisa

The story of Elisa begins in 1882, not with a startup, but with a permit granted to telegraph mechanic Daniel Johannes Wadén to establish a telephone cooperative in Helsinki. This entity, the Helsinki Telephone Association (HPY), started by connecting just 56 phone numbers. For decades, it grew steadily, expanding by merging with smaller local operators. A pivotal moment came with the move into mobile communications. HPY was instrumental in founding Radiolinja, which broke the state's mobile network monopoly. In 1991, Radiolinja transmitted the world's first-ever GSM phone call, marking a significant milestone in telecommunications history. The company's structure underwent a major transformation in the late 1990s. In 1997, it was listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange as Helsingin Puhelin Oyj. Through a series of mergers and a demutualization process, the company consolidated its operations, acquiring Radiolinja and other regional players. In 2000, it was renamed Elisa Communications Oyj, and finally, in 2003, it became Elisa Oyj as it unified its brands. This consolidation was a response to increased competition and falling prices, a necessary step to adapt to a changing market. Today, Elisa is a major telecommunications and digital services company in Finland and Estonia. It has continued to pioneer new technologies, launching the world's first commercial 3G/UMTS900 network in 2007 and one of the first commercial 5G networks in 2019.