Finland Times

Press Image from VTT.

The University of Oulu and the Technical Research Centre of Finland-VTT in conjunction with their partners are working on a project to build a fifth-generation test network

 

The initiative announced in mid-February is the first 5G network in the country – a platform for developing critical technologies as well as testing performance of new technologies in a realistic environment.

 

The planned test network consists of a restricted network on VTT premises and a public network at the University of Oulu. The plan includes expanding the coverage of the 5G network to different parts of the City of Oulu on what is described as a more open basis.

 

The actual project development work is being carried out on the University of Oulu and VTT premises where development and competence are located.

 

A number of companies have signed up to participate directly in the project. Furthermore, as part of the wider project, a joint venture between six cities was established with openness in technology usage as one of its main focus area. Essentially, this means open data, open participation and open innovation platforms.

 

“In short, companies can validate their products first in test networks provided by research institutes or in selected areas and after that companies can proceed to utilize city-built open test platforms, where the actual users can provide further feedback,” explains Heikki Huhmo, project manager at 6iAika-project.

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

In Humho’s words, 5G is not only about a new radio technology but more of a combination of already existing networks and new microcell-like technologies which, when combined, provide a framework for a new kind of services.

 

“The point is not just allowing more data bandwidth or new hardware but the expectations are in the new ways to provide services and content. With this project, we are introducing open innovation platforms which allow citizens to offer their two cents – we can not only think about making digital versions of existing services but also enabling new services that have not yet been even thought of,” he adds.

 

As these innovation platforms provide methods for utilising the open data, Huhmo points out how the network will turn out in practice relying on a fusion between ICT and content, “It’s very much like the culture in general – we definitely should not be stuck in the tech side of the project. The combination of ICT and content development is the key.”

 

According to Huhmo, when people realise that they can do things, devices will evolve in response to users’ requirement. As an example, he cites Virtual Oulu, an open innovation platform which currently does not have much content despite the fact that the city has been scanned into a 3D model quite extensively.