DNA’s 5G population coverage 93% – the latest municipalities are Toivakka and Veteli

• The 5G network now opened in Veteli, Central Ostrobothnia, does not yet cover the municipality’s village centre area except for its very northern parts. However, the 5G network does cover Lake Räyringinjärvi with its surrounding areas and villages, as well as the southernmost parts of the municipality.
• The 5G network now opened in Toivakka, Central Finland, covers the municipality’s village centre area as well as the western and southern parts of the municipality.

Check the exact state of the mobile network in your area on DNA’s coverage map at www.dna.fi/5G.

“It’s great to be able to welcome the residents in Veteli and Toivakka to enjoy our 5G services. DNA’s 5G construction has gone according to plan, and our 5G network already covers well over five million Finns based on their place of residence. Our network is constantly being expanded and improved across Finland, and construction is increasingly focusing on areas outside of large cities and urban communities”, says DNA’s VP of Radio Networks Jarkko Laari.

Although the pace of DNA’s 5G construction is unchanged, the growth in population coverage will slow as work shifts more and more into less densely populated areas. Instead of population coverage, the focus is therefore increasingly on expanding geographical coverage.

“Construction in sparsely populated areas will prioritise areas of high traffic where the current 4G network sees the most use. It is important to ensure that high-quality mobile connections are available wherever people are – including areas that aren’t densely populated. Our 5G network will achieve near 100 per cent population coverage in mainland Finland within a couple of years”, Laari continues.

In eastern and northern Finland, the mobile communication networks used by DNA are designed, implemented and maintained by the Finnish Shared Network, a joint network company established by DNA and Telia in 2014.

4G is also improving – check the status of your municipality on the coverage map

DNA has been building a 5G network that can operate mainly either in the lower 700-megahertz or higher 3.5-gigahertz frequency bands around Finland. Lower frequencies offer a fast connection that is more than sufficient for normal Internet use and allow the network to cover a large area with good indoor coverage. The reach of this kind of a 5G network is typically several kilometres from the base station, depending on the terrain. Higher frequencies, on the other hand, offer gigabit-class connection speeds with minimal delay over a smaller coverage area. Lower frequencies are typically used in rural areas and less densely populated urban areas, whereas higher frequencies are used in more densely populated urban areas.

The construction of the 5G network also has the effect of updating the entire mobile network, as it requires old base stations to be replaced with new ones. This means faster 4G speeds and an improved user experience in the areas where the network is being modernised. In many cases, 5G also offers an excellent alternative to fixed-network broadband at home, so the completion of the network boosts the area’s competitiveness and expands consumers’ options for Internet services. A suitable device and subscription are needed to use 5G services.

Check the exact state of the mobile network in your area on DNA’s coverage map at www.dna.fi/5G. The map shows the theoretical maximum speed and frequency bands of the 4G or 5G network in the selected location. More than one frequency may be used in the same area, and your mobile device will usually select the best option automatically. You can also check the map to see current network improvement projects. The map is updated at a slight delay, so the latest updates may not yet be visible.

Further information for the media:

Jarkko Laari, VP, Radio Networks, DNA Plc, tel. +358 (0)44 044 4949, jarkko.laari@dna.fi

DNA Corporate Communications, tel. +358 (0)44 044 8000, communications@dna.fi

DNA’s 5G coverage map: https://www.dna.fi/5G