UPDATE 1-Tele2 Q2 tops forecast, boosts outlook for Russia

* Tele2 profit 2.7 bln crowns ($367 million), above forecast

* Says sees quicker profitability in new Russia regions

* Croatia reaches EBITDA break-even

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STOCKHOLM, July 21 (Reuters) - Nordic and emerging market telecoms firm Tele2 (TEL2b.ST) a posted better-than-expected second-quarter profit on Wednesday and said start-up operations in Russia would become profitable sooner than planned.

Telecoms operators weathered the global downturn relatively well, slashing costs to offset falling sales. Nordic operators have also been helped by strong emerging market operations which have continued to grow.

Like rival TeliaSonera (TLSN.ST), which reported on Tuesday, Tele2's second quarter was boosted by markets outside the Nordic region and by surging data traffic at home, as smartphones, like Apple's best-selling iPhone, become more popular. [ID:nLDE66J056]

In Russia, Tele2 added 1.1 million subscribers in the quarter and said newly launched operations several regions would now reach profitability faster than previously expected.

In Croatia, Tele2's mobile unit broke even slightly ahead of schedule.

Tele2's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the period were 2.7 billion Swedish crowns ($367 million) versus a forecast of 2.4 billion in a Reuters poll of analysts and 2.4 billion a year ago.

Net sales were 10 billion crowns, excluding one-off items, against a forecast of 9.9 billion and also 9.9 billion in the second quarter of 2009.

Norway's Telenor (TEL.OL), which has operations in a range of emerging markets, reported lower earnings on Wednesday but raised its revenue growth target and also pointed to high mobile data use as a revenue driver. [ID:nLDE66K03I] ($1=7.357 Swedish Crown) (Editing by Hans Peters)