Digitalisation is progressing at different speeds in different municipalities – Traficom’s broadband rating shows the development of networks

In order to illustrate the regional comparison, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom has created a municipality-specific broadband rating. The star rating has been given separately for the situation of both fixed and mobile connections. The rating has been calculated with the aim of describing both the current situation as well as the ability to meet future needs. Each municipality receives stars separately for both the fixed and the mobile broadband on a scale from 1 to 5. The calculation of the rating is described in more detail at the end of the news.

In smaller municipalities, fixed connections are largely built by cooperatives

Fast fixed connections are being built at a steady rate, especially outside the largest cities when considered in proportion to the number of inhabitants. Lumijoki and Pyhäjoki gained the highest star rating at 4.5 stars. As many as 27 Finnish municipalities received at least 4 stars, which is 8% of all municipalities. In the rating, 4 stars already means that the availability and deployment of fast fixed connections is at a very good level. During the year, new fast broadband has been built especially in places such as Lappajärvi, Nivala, Oulainen and Raahe, the rating of which rose clearly from the last year.

In many respects, the success of smaller municipalities with fixed networks is due to the active optical fibre cooperatives that have built regional optical fibre networks with the help of state aid for broadband, for example. The aid is granted to areas where market-based broadband connections are not developing quickly enough, and the mobile network cannot offer sufficient connections, either. The municipalities in the leading areas have played an active role in supporting the construction of optical fibre networks.

The star rating of the mobile network shows the construction of the 5G network

The 5G network has been built first in urban areas in particular. A total of 10 municipalities get the full 5 stars in the mobile network rating. The coverage of fast 300 Mb connections offered by 5G in particular raises the number of stars for these municipalities. As many as 40 municipalities received at least 4 stars. Most of these municipalities consist of larger cities and the clusters of habitation surrounding them. The star ratings are calculated based on the theoretically available coverage. 

As digitalisation covers more and more aspects of life, connections of sufficiently high quality are increasingly important to municipalities. However, 40% of Finnish municipalities still remain under 2 stars with regard to the fixed network. For the mobile network, there are fewer municipalities under 2 stars; less than one fifth of the Finnish municipalities. Attention should be paid to sufficient connections especially in the areas where there are few connections of any kind available, fixed or mobile – 23 municipalities remain under 2 stars for both.