5G is on it’s way. Companies and countries race against each other about who is the first to utilize new technology and all the possibilities that it brings. For example new business models, smart city services and cost-efficient ways to offer more capacity are issues that encourage to invest in 5G development.
Together with Nokia Oyj, Smart Tampere program has built a network (Nokia Digital Automation Cloud LTE) where companies and research centers can already test and develop their globally scalable 5G products and services. The network was announced at the end of 2017 and has evoked plenty of interest. Now the aim is to get even more pilots going on.
– Private LTE testing network enables demos and tests related to new smart city applications and functionalities in a real urban environment. It allows testing and developing services that will be later available in the 5G network, says Jari Peltoniemi, the operative manager of Digital Automation unit of Nokia.
The LTE network of Nokia can be sliced for different users, and thus a specific data band and resources within the network can be assigned to them. The City will utilize this, for example, in a pilot where robot buses are tested as a feeder service for the tram.
Besides the actual testing, another important aspect is to create networks. The challenges of future cities are complicated and in order to create the best solutions one must have different kind of expertise and partners.
– It is important to meet people that you can build cooperation with. If we succeed in networking and building an ecosystem around the testing platform innovations will surely arise, estimates Kari Systä, the professor of the Tampere University of Technology.
Photo: Oscan Nissin/Sohjoa project
