Nokia is to completely modernize private nationwide LTE network for Ukkoverkot, the Finnish network operator offering wireless data communications services for infrastructure operators, the industrial IoT market, public safety authorities, the maritime industry and both residents and enterprises in remote areas. 

Founded in 2014, Ukkoverkot operates its own LTE-based mobile data network and a number of local private LTE networks, offering fast connections using the 450 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum bands. Ukkoverkot's low-frequency nationwide network is largely reserved for the use of its industrial and public safety customers, which helps ensure exceptional network stability and reliability, while its high frequency network is reserved for private micro-operator networks. As a pure broadband operator, Ukkoverkot's network exclusively carries data services.

Starting in Q4 2017, Nokia will upgrade Ukkoverkot's older-generation network technology to Nokia's LTE-based solution. This enables Ukkoverkot's customers in industrial IoT settings to capitalize on opportunities related to new Industry 4.0. applications, while critical communications and public safety operators can benefit from ultra-reliable, high-bandwidth services supporting all standardized public safety features. 

Due to better propagation characteristics, low-band spectrum can provide a larger coverage area than high-band spectrum, which makes Nokia's 450 MHz LTE network solution ideal for delivering services in sparsely populated areas such as the Nordic countries.

Solution includes Nokia's LTE 450, deployed for the first time in Finland; Nokia's TD-LTE 2600 and Nokia Compact Network solutions; NetAct Compact virtualized mobile network management system; Nokia FastMile solution combining a specific fixed wireless radio antenna topology solution with interference mitigation techniques, along with an end user home modem that has a high gain, self turning, directional beamforming antenna. Nokia FastMile solution provides up to 12X typical coverage area and 3x throughput compared to standard mobile broadband network.