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ICT news from Finland
Newsbites:
» Electronics industry accelerates R&D growth» Top tip: Finnish mobile technology companies
» Investors develop taste for Finnish mobile gaming
» Wireless broadband to be launched in April 2007
» Finnish telecom operator makes history – again
» Almost 80% of Finnish companies have gone broadband
Electronics industry accelerates R&D growth
In 2005, the prime accelerator for R&D spending in Finland was the electronics industry, which has increased R&D investment a solid 7% since 2004, according to the Statistics Finland.
The total R&D outlay for Finland amounted to 5.5bil euro in 2005, while research spending grew by 4% or 220mil euro over 2004. Of that sum, 193mil euro was from the private sector and 25mil euro from the public sector. At the same time corporate R&D spending grew by 71%.
Almost 80% of Finnish companies have gone broadband
In spring 2006, 77% of Finnish companies employing more than five persons were connected to the internet through a broadband connection, if compared with 73% the previous year, according to Statistics Finland.
Since 2002, there has been a 38% increase in the number of broadband connections among Finnish companies, with over 80% of companies employing more than ten persons opting for the fast route to cyberspace. The percentage of Finnish companies with their own website is 67%, with nine out of ten companies employing more than fifty persons visible on the internet.
Almost 80% of Finnish companies have gone broadband
In spring 2006, 77% of Finnish companies employing more than five persons were connected to the internet through a broadband connection, if compared with 73% the previous year, according to Statistics Finland.
Since 2002, there has been a 38% increase in the number of broadband connections among Finnish companies, with over 80% of companies employing more than ten persons opting for the fast route to cyberspace. The percentage of Finnish companies with their own website is 67%, with nine out of ten companies employing more than fifty persons visible on the internet.
Top tip: Finnish mobile technology companies
In the last three years, a growing number of Finnish mobile technology companies have been acquired by foreign investors. The list of firms covers an exciting range of mobile technologies, from gaming (Fathammer) and e-mail services (Smartner) to graphics hardware (Hybrid). Finnish management in the mobile sector has also become a sought-after asset.
“Technology developers operating in small domestic markets have two options. If they choose to stay put, they miss out on growth. If they join an international organization, they get improved access to capital and sales channels," says Artturi Tarjanne, partner at Nexit Ventures, an international venture capital company focusing on mobile technologies. For Finnish mobile companies, setting up their own sales networks is cost prohibitive, adds Mr. Tarjanne. He also stresses that there is growing demand for mobile expertise worldwide. “We’re talking about substantial sums of money right now – not just media attention."
Investors develop taste for Finnish mobile gaming
In June 2004, Digital Chocolate, a California-based developer of games and applications for mobile phones, bought Sumea, an up-and-coming Finnish mobile game developer. As part of the purchase agreement, Digital Chocolate recruited the whole Sumea team (30 persons).
Today, Digital Chocolate is the largest gaming developer in Finland, with leading telecom operators like Orange and Verizon Wireless as it customers, according to Jaana Wanger, communications manager for the company. “In 2006, Digital Chocolate invested 18mil euro in its Finnish operations. We also employee 125 persons in Finland and use local subcontractors extensively."
Other recently purchased gaming companies include Fathammer, a leading Finnish developer of 3D mobile game platforms. The UK-based buyer, Telcogames, is aiming to develop next-generation designer games for telecom operators through its base in Finland.
Wireless broadband to be launched in April 2007
Digita Oy, the leading Finnish distributor of radio and television services, joins forces with Siemens Finland to build the first nation-wide wireless broadband network in Finland. The network is based on FLASH-OFDM technology and offers high-speed internet access to cities and sparsely populated areas.
“Our goal is that Finland will be the first country in Europe to provide wireless broadband services nationwide,” says Sirpa Ojala, managing director of Digita. Consumers will benefit most from the project through improved delivery of high-quality online services.
Finnish telecom operator makes history – again
In November, the world’s first 3G/HSDPA call at 900 MHz was made on a Finnish telecom network in cooperation with Nokia. The network operator, Elisa, made history in 1991 for carrying out the world’s first GSM call.
The test call proves that GSM and 3G/HSDPA services are compatible at 900 MHz. “We’re developing UMTS 900 technologies so that consumers in Finland’s in sparsely populated areas will have guaranteed access to the latest online services,” says Matti Vikkula, head of Elisa’s consumer business area.
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