Sitowise has been building 5G services for a while. We are expanding our expertise in cooperation with businesses in the field, such as equipment manufacturers, operators, service providers and municipalities, and we are engaged in development work in Business Finland projects.

The next-generation 5G network that enables data transfer at 1 Gbit/s is almost here and will bring with it devices that communicate with each other easily, systems that collect information from their environment via their sensors through radio networks, autonomous vehicles and giant screens that display 8K video at festivals. “Network operators are already using several testing networks, for example, in Hernesaari, Espoo and Oulu,” says Solutions Consultant Anssi Savisalo, who is in charge of developing Sitowise’s 5G businesses.

The location of testing networks matters because 5G networks will not be available everywhere, at least not immediately. “5G will initially be integrated into dense urban landscapes: city centres and large-scale public events,” says Anssi Savisalo.

When it arrives, 5G will revolutionise traditional production processes and services. It will open up completely new opportunities for new services, efficiency, education and security. Unlike previous telecommunication generations, 5G will integrate information networks much more closely with the functions of municipalities.

5G will make intangible infrastructure part of the tangible infrastructure of municipalities. There will be a much greater requirement for base stations. And the requirement is really huge: while the 4G network requires base stations every two kilometres, the 5G network requires them on the streets every 50 metres.

In the future, Sitowise can, for instance, offer its clients preliminary planning for a 5G network as a turnkey service,

says Solutions Consultant Anssi Savisalo, who is in charge of developing 5G businesses.

The changing city infrastructure

It is not smart to carry out base station permit processes and necessary cabling as separate projects like before but to implement them when other infrastructure is being built and repaired. Planning and efficient procedures must be prepared well in advance and the approach must be proactive.

- When power cables are installed, streetlights are renewed, sewers are serviced and the road has been ripped open, the fibre can be installed without additional expenses. This is a great example of utilising the common municipal engineering worksite, says Anssi Savisalo.

Sitowise is glad to help with these operations.  - We are professionals of city infrastructure and large-scale city development projects and we also have extensive experience of permit processes and designing telecommunication networks.

Sitowise is already putting a great deal of effort into preparing to offer 5G services to municipalities, communities and corporate clients. The company is following developments in the field and eagerly participating in projects.

- We are involved in the LuxTurrim 5G project lead by Nokia Bell Labs, in which we are jointly developing both 5G technology and a business ecosystem based on it.

Sitowise will also be able to give clients like building companies an estimate of the cost of building a 5G network and offer preliminary planning for a 5G network as a turnkey service.

An important networking channel

Sitowise was the first built environment planning consultant to join the 5G Finland network established last November. Other members include for example Business Finland, Nokia, Telia, Tieto and IBM. For Sitowise, 5G Finland is a natural cooperation forum that expands the company’s expertise in 5G and offers new and useful contacts with new businesses in the field. The aim of the network is to create and pilot applications and services that are useful for the end user and made possible by the modernised 5G technology. Sitowise offers the network its solid expertise in city infrastructure and experience in large-scale city development projects.