Finland 5G A Global Launchpad

Finland has a strong history as a prominent player in network technologies. This history gives Finland a strong network infrastructure and innovative prospective partner pool on which multiple 5G testbeds have been created. And, while the rest of the world is still grappling with 5G, in Finland 6G is already under development. Finland’s innovators are eager to partner with American firms with complementary capabilities. This makes Finland a great launchpad to take 5G – and 6G – solutions global.

Ever since Finland’s pioneering of 2G networks and Nokia dominating the mobile phone markets, ICT has been a priority in Finland. As a result, Finland ranks first in the Digital Economy and Social Index 2020 and per OECD, 94.4 percent of households of Finland have internet access with 150 mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. This strong ICT background, combined with the opportunity to test technologies in hostile Arctic environments, has made Finland a focal point for launching 5G solutions. Product delivery by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been tested in the skies over Helsinki. Self-driving vehicles are tested in regular traffic in Helsinki, with more extreme LIDAR powered self-driving car tests happening in snowstorms in Northern Finland. In both cases, tests promise unlimited global application.

To assist companies in testing for global application, Finland has numerous 5G testbeds available for commercial use ranging from fully isolated 5G infrastructures to actual real-life test ranges. With a recently finished auction for 5G bandwidths, Finland is currently one of the few markets where all the 5G bands; low, mid and high frequency; are available for use. This means Finland has the same mmWave capabilities as the United States, but 5G solutions also have access to the other spectrums currently unavailable in the United States allowing to fully explore the possibilities of 5G-enabled products. Even 6G solutions can already be prototyped in Finland.

American firms eager to test their Made-in-USA innovations for global application may want to consider Finland among their test options to make products go global. Reach out to your local U.S. Export Assistance Center to learn more of this opportunity and for guidance on how to get started.