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The paper assesses the market conditions and dynamics, the architectures and the different approaches for deployment of 3G Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), in an attempt to address specific advantages and pitfalls. Following the definition of appropriate service sets and tariff structures, and taking into account demand scenarios, a techno-economic model has been developed, in order to compute key economic indicators. The paper presents techno-economic results of specific business cases and deployment alternatives for an average "large" European country and a smaller, Nordic-type country. Fixed and variable costs have been identified and the business case shows how different service sets lead to different costs. Different MVNO business profiles have been investigated. Profitability for all scenarios and business profiles has been calculated, presented and discussed. Major opportunities and threats, as well as critical parameters and uncertainties have been identified through sensitivity analysis.

Relations between the length of a sunspot cycle and the average temperature in the same and the next cycle are calculated for a number of meteorological stations in Norway and in the North Atlantic region. No significant trend is found between the length of a cycle and the average temperature in the same cycle, but a significant negative trend is found between the length of a cycle and the temperature in the next cycle. This provides a tool to predict an average temperature decrease of at least 1.0 • C from solar cycle 23 to 24 for the stations and areas analyzed. We find for the Norwegian local stations investigated that 25-56% of the temperature increase the last 150 years may be attributed to the Sun. For 3 North Atlantic stations we get 63-72% solar contribution. This points to the Atlantic currents as reinforcing a solar signal.