The development of services using 5G networks is in full swing, even though a standard for 5G networks has not yet been created. So how will 5G services be developed? The world’s first open 5G test network in Oulu was built specifically for businesses. A large-scale set of pilot projects is therefore being set up in Oulu’s Etu-Lyötty and Karjasilta.
The use of mobile data in Finland has almost doubled every year since 2012. The main explanation for this dramatic growth is the evolution of devices and mobile applications. High-speed data transmission has increased the use of data-intensive services, such as video content on mobile networks. The prevalence of unlimited connection contracts has also contributed to the rapid take-up of new services in Finland. Streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix and Yle Arena are becoming more and more common. Increased video playback is already putting pressure on the existing 4G network.
New requirements for data transfer
Development continues. High-definition 4K video is only just becoming commonplace. There are already many platforms for 360° video sharing, and there is a growing demand for streaming. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) require high data rates and a lot of bandwidth. There is also the Internet of Things (IoT), where devices communicate with each other. IoT will enable the expansion of automation into new areas.
Huge transmission speeds, minimal latency and the ability to connect devices that communicate with each other are the three key features that are driving the development of 5G networks. For example, traffic automation requires a minimal delay in data transmission. It’s not just about speed, it’s about reliability and safety.
The implementation of intelligent transport is one of the biggest changes to everyday life that 5G can bring. Another is smart environments. One pilot site is about to come up in Oulu’s Karjasilta.
User-oriented 5G test environment for everyday life in Oulu
The Caritasservice home in Taka-Lyötty, Oulu, is starting to test how different devices can be used to provide caregivers with information about their clients’ wellbeing. For example, when a client takes medication from a dispenser, the activity is immediately recorded by the nurses.
The service house will serve as a 5G testing environment. The results of the testing will be used to build a completely new type of smart living area, the Karjasilta Verstas.
The development work does not end there. Karjasilta Verstas also serves as a testing and pilot environment for other companies. Housing-related products and services can be developed together with residents. For this purpose, a Business Lab and a Living Lab will also be set up in the area.
The arena for commercialising the results of the development work will be the Karjasilta School, where the Business Lab will be located. We are going strong on the business front. We plan to take the Karjasilta concept to international markets, says Matti Tarkiainen, Hartela’s Construction Manager, in an interview with Yle. The great thing about the Karjasilta project is that it is a user-oriented and digital 5G test environment in everyday life.
The Karjasilta project is part of the open 5GTN test network built by the University of Oulu and VTT. 5GTN is a 5G development environment that is specifically designed for business use. A large number of companies are already involved, which will test 5G technology in a number of application areas.
Intelligent transport developers have also seized the opportunity. Finland’s first 5G network for managing robotic cars and its first base stations will be completed next winter at the Oulu Zone test track.
In which direction will 5G network services evolve?
The Karjasilta Living Lab in Oulu is a good example of how 5G services are evolving. Commercial services must have users.
The technology is implemented on users’ terms and the aim is to make everyday things more effortless,” says Olli Liinamaa, Project Manager of the Oulu 5G test network.
The EUCNC 2017 conference on wireless communications was held in Oulu in June 2017. As part of the congress, a 5GFWD hackathon was held, where top coders from around the world solved problems posed by client companies. The winning ideas support Liinamaa’s vision of user-centricity in 5G services. The smart glasses solution for wireless production and the virtual reality teaching platform are strictly based on user needs.
Is there any difference in developing an application for a 5G network solution?
In theory, there is nothing different about it,” says MeKiwi application developer Ilkka Koiste. “The difference is that the 5G network will enable the implementation of ideas that would be impractical, to say the least, on a 4G network due to technical constraints.
Oulu is the home of 5G. The basis for this claim can be found in a long history of development work in the field of radio technology. After all, all wireless data transmission is based in one way or another on radio technology.
During the EUCNC 2017 conference week in Oulu, 5G technology was also introduced to the general public. A natural environment to showcase what 5G-enabled augmented reality services could look like was, of course, on the corners of the square!
Watch the 5G Oulu Live 360°
Read the article on Kaleva: Oulu is definitely the home of 5G.
The 5G network will be structured differently from existing telecoms networks. It will not replace them, but will act as a complement to the existing networks. Read here about 5G technology in brief