Next generation 6G mobile network will revive the countryside

Rural regions in northern Sweden and Finland have for decades struggled with a secure and reliable connection and because of that cannot utilize digital services and take part of critical societal information. The new project, Arctic 6G, coordinated by Luleå University of Technology, will develop new technology to secure the future of connection in northern Sweden and Finland.

Together with the University of Oulu in Finland and University of Applied Sciences in Lapland, CDT will be involved and develop the base upon which 6G, the next generation of mobile network, can be built. Recently, the centralization of larger cities has become more prominent in the societal debate, making the development of rural regions fall behind. At the same time there is currently an ongoing war in Europe, making a secure and reliable connection more necessary than ever.

–It is a fantastic opportunity to be able to strengthen our cooperation with the university of Oulu within the telecom-area, and at the same time contribute to the regional and global development of the next generation of mobile network says Michael Nilsson, project manager at CDT.

A connected countryside

A more reliable connection does not only benefit the occasional tourist, enabling them to surf the web when they are camping. For the local population of rural regions, a reliable connection would improve the quality of life immensely. Digital services, which is a given in bigger cities, could be completely unavailable in rural areas. Services such as accessing your private patient journal and critical societal information from public services. Furthermore, it would lead to better social contacts and increase the social security of the community. Besides benefiting the local population of rural regions, a reliable connection would also enable the establishment of industries which would contribute the growth and development of the entire region. In a longer time frame, 6G will contribute to the overall development of the countryside as it will unlock the potential for the local business, tourism, education and much more.

– The overarching goal with Arctic 6G is to develop, demonstrate and disseminate new technology which will improve societal resilience of future 6G networks in the region. The whole project is at the same time permeated by the idea to strengthen the entire population through a reliable and available internet connection says Karl Andersson, professor in Pervasive and Mobile Computing and CEO at CDT.

The establishing of a stable connection would also open for digital services which contribute to ecological and sustainable solutions. A long-term effect of 6G would result in a greener future, especially within the agriculture. For example, the project Arctic 6G would enable the use of newly developed energy efficient technology which benefits the environment.

The Arctic 6G project aims to achieve, among other goals, to increase the understanding and needs that exists in rural areas, contribute to the global development of 6G, create sustainable solutions and to increase our understanding of Sápmi and reindeer herders’ connectivity needs.

–We have an incredible opportunity to both develop and influence the global work towards 6G. Simultaneously we will strengthen our cooperation with our research colleagues from Finland and together we can highlight and represent the needs and possibilities that exists in northern Sweden and Finland’s rural areas, says Jaap van de Beek, professor in Signal Processing at Luleå University of Technology.