Elisa set to launch new 5G standalone network services

Elisa is introducing more possibilities to take advantage of the new properties of 5G. In June, 5G standalone network services will be available to businesses and organisations – and the 5G standalone offering for consumers is expanding in May. Elisa’s standalone 5G network services make it a pioneer on an international scale.

Elisa is the first operator in Finland to offer companies mobile broadband and mobile phone subscriptions that utilise the standalone 5G network and are designed for data use cases that require operational reliability.

For their wireless data needs, companies can get a 5G standalone fixed wireless access solution that operates through an external router and utilises network slicing and a 5G standalone dongle for mobile working. Later in autumn, companies will also be able to benefit from standalone 5G corporate networks utilising network slicing.

“We have mapped out Finnish companies’ needs for the way they use their subscriptions, and many companies already require more stable connections. At Elisa, we believe it’s important to be a pioneer – and one that our customers can trust to always provide them with the best possible technologies to use with our particularly high-quality network connections”, comments Petteri Svensson, Director of Mobile business in Elisa’s Corporate Business.

In May, Elisa will also be offering mobile broadband subscriptions for consumers that utilise the standalone 5G network. Elisa brought Finland’s first 5G standalone mobile phone subscriptions as well as congestion-free subscriptions using network slicing for the home to consumer customers in February.

Standalone 5G network subscriptions make it possible to get the best out of a 5G subscription and represent a step towards even more improved connections, while 5G standalone phone subscriptions have up to 50% shorter delay, and the batteries of devices connected to a standalone 5G network last up to 20% longer.

AI will gradually become part of mobile work

For example, the rapid adoption of AI and the use of automation in various mobile solutions will require better connectivity than previously. Elisa’s Svensson believes that AI will gradually become part of mobile working as well:

“Already now, there are many mobile tasks that require excellent mobile connections – for example, in a lot of professions, many experts do their work using mobile devices. These devices are steadily getting new capabilities that require more and more bandwidth. For example, the work of selling clothes is easier if you don't have to type commands into a tablet, where getting an answer can be slow and take up the customer’s time. When you can use a device to help you search for product information, place orders and manage customer contacts smoothly by using AI alongside the physical work, it makes the work more efficient and improves the customer’s experience.”

“As well as enabling mobile working in many professions, better connections also offer new ways of working. For example, in fields where there is a shortage of skilled workers, the specialised skills in high demand can be concentrated and utilised practically with advanced mobile tools for mobile working. For example, maintenance personnel can use augmented reality apps or devices while in the field and receive instructions in real time from a centralised control centre.”

5G standalone is the next step in the development of mobile networks, letting people in Finland take full advantage of the 5G network. Elisa was the first operator in the Nordics to adopt a standalone 5G network in summer 2021 and has continued to be a pioneer in 5G by offering new services for the various needs of consumers and corporations. 5G standalone phone subscriptions have up to 50% shorter delay, and the batteries of devices connected to a 5G standalone network last up to 20% longer.