Elisa set to build 5G-ready mobile network in Jyväskylä

Elisa begins building a 5G-ready network in Jyväskylä in June. The new network will be faster and more reliable. At the moment, fifth generation networks and services are being developed all over the world. In February, Elisa was the first in world to test a network that complies with the 5G pre-standards.

Elisa will renew its mobile network in Jyväskylä by making it 5G-ready. In the project, base station hardware that is currently used in the mobile network will be replaced with the latest technology. The construction of the network will start in June, and it will be finished by the end of August.

Using the latest technology, we will build a 5G-enabled network in Jyväskylä. It means that in the future, it will be easy to add features required in 5G services to the network, for instance, considerably faster data transfer speeds, short delay and functionalities needed in the Internet of Things, says Juha Peltomäki, Elisa’s Regional Director for Central Finland

For two years, Elisa has been testing technology that is used in 5G networks of the future, as well as pre-commercial applications. The latest test took place at the beginning of February, when applications of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) were tested in the first 5G network implemented with pre-commercial terminal devices.

Jyväskylä is the third city in Finland to have this extensive modern network.

"We are one of the global pioneers in the development of 5G technology. These kinds of networks and services that are based on them are being rapidly developed everywhere in the world. I’m certain that the first pre-commercial 5G services will be available already in 2018," Peltomäki continues.

The new mobile network will immediately benefit people living in the area. It enables faster and more reliable network connections that enhance the use of digital services, such as sharing different kinds of content and large files, as well as watching videos and videoconferencing.

New digital services for people living in the city

The network that is going to be built offers the opportunity to provide completely new digital services for people living in the region. At the same time, it creates new business opportunities for the companies. Digitalisation is an essential facilitator, as well as data produced by it. Thanks to the 5G technology, transfer speed will increase many times over.

"It’s great that Elisa is going to renew the mobile network in the Jyväskylä economic region. At the same time, it supports the development of the business sector in the area. This ensures that in the future, new and even better digital services can be developed for people living in the city," says the Mayor of Jyväskylä Timo Koivisto.