IP: Finland

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

ntent-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
ntent-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable"It's the most-connected country I've been in, hands down."
--David J. Farber, University of Pennsylvania
hands down."


David J. Farber, University of Pennsylvania
hands down."
Finns thrive in a plugged-in world
nsylvania
hands down."


nns thrive in a plugged-in world
nsylvania
hands down."
Internet, wireless, cellular link citizens
a
hands down."


ternet, wireless, cellular link citizens
a
hands down."
Published: Sept. 8, 1996
ar link citizens
a
hands down."


blished: Sept. 8, 1996
ar link citizens
a
hands down."
BY DAN GILLMOR
 8, 1996
ar link citizens
a
hands down."
Mercury News Computing Editor
nk citizens
a
hands down."


rcury News Computing Editor
nk citizens
a
hands down."
ABOARD THE HELSINKI-TAMPERE TRAIN, Finland -- For about the fifth time in
an hour, a cellular phone chirped. It was Elina Vuorenp=E4=E4's this time. S=
he
glanced
a cellular phone chirped. It was Elina Vuorenp=E4=E4's this time. S=
heaway from her reading, flipped open the phone, pressed a button to stop the. S=
he
ringing and returned to her book. She didn't feel like taking the call at. S=
he
the moment, she said
o her book. She didn't feel like taking the call at. S=
helater.
ment, she said
o her book. She didn't feel like taking the call at. S=
he
ter.
ment, she said
o her book. She didn't feel like taking the call at. S=
heThis wasn't a rail car full of executives. It was the tourist-class coachat. S=
he
car. And for Vuorenp=E4=E4, a student, the mobile phone was no luxury. It wa=
se
her phone -- her only
=E4, a student, the mobile phone was no luxury. It wa=
sephone -- and she carried it everywhere.
the mobile phone was no luxury. It wa=
se
one -- and she carried it everywhere.
the mobile phone was no luxury. It wa=
seFrom their homes to their businesses -- and even in railway coaches --y. It wa=
se
Finns are connected electronically, perhaps more so than any other people wa=
se
in the world. They're
ctronically, perhaps more so than any other people wa=
seplugging into one of the world's most advanced telecommunications systems.
wa=
se
ugging into one of the world's most advanced telecommunications systems.
wa=
seConsider:
to one of the world's most advanced telecommunications systems.
wa=
se
nsider:
to one of the world's most advanced telecommunications systems.
wa=
se   They're connected by phones, and increasingly via wireless services. In
wa=
se
Helsinki and other major cities, it's a reasonable bet that almost every
wa=
se
other person on the street
ies, it's a reasonable bet that almost every
wa=
seis carrying a cell phone; there is nearly one cell phone for every threery
wa=
se
Finns including babies and great-grandparents, according to Finnish phone
wa=
se
company estimates.
es and great-grandparents, according to Finnish phone
wa=
se
company estimates.
es and great-grandparents, according to Finnish phone
wa=
se   They're on the Internet. Only Iceland, an Atlantic island nation with ae
wa=
se
tiny population, has more Internet connections per capita than Finland,ae
wa=
se
which ranks far ahead of
Internet connections per capita than Finland,ae
wa=
sethe United States in this measure, according to Matrix Information andnd,ae
wa=
se
Directory Services Inc., an Austin, Texas-based company that tracks Netae
wa=
se
trends.
 Services Inc., an Austin, Texas-based company that tracks Netae
wa=
se
trends.
 Services Inc., an Austin, Texas-based company that tracks Netae
wa=
se   They're moving to adopt new media, using state-of-the-art publicks Netae
wa=
se
telecommunications networks that can handle all varieties of data, such aswa=
se
state-owned Telecom
tworks that can handle all varieties of data, such aswa=
seFinland Ltd.'s MediaNet, an Internet-based system for distributing music, aswa=
se
videos and other multimedia information.
ystem for distributing music, aswa=
se
videos and other multimedia information.
ystem for distributing music, aswa=
se   And, in recent years, Finland has produced some of the computing andc, aswa=
se
telecommunications worlds' best-respected innovators. They include Linusaswa=
se
Torvalds --
tions worlds' best-respected innovators. They include Linusaswa=
seoriginator of the Linux operating system, which has gained a globale Linusaswa=
se
following -- and Telecom Finland's Juha Heinanen, known widely for his worka=
se
in advanced computer
om Finland's Juha Heinanen, known widely for his worka=
senetworking.
 computer
om Finland's Juha Heinanen, known widely for his worka=
se
tworking.
 computer
om Finland's Juha Heinanen, known widely for his worka=
se''It's the most-connected country I've been in, hands down,'' said David J.rka=
se
Farber, a telecommunications professor at the University of Pennsylvania.rka=
se
and one of the United
tions professor at the University of Pennsylvania.rka=
seStates' top experts in the field.
essor at the University of Pennsylvania.rka=
se
ates' top experts in the field.
essor at the University of Pennsylvania.rka=
seFarber attributes Finland's wired status to a variety of factors, includingrka=
se
''national pride, education -- very well-educated people who want to stayrka=
se
in and build their
ucation -- very well-educated people who want to stayrka=
secountry -- and support from industry and government.'' He and other expertsrka=
se
also cite the nation's spread-out population and long, dark, cold wintersrka=
se
as incentives that
's spread-out population and long, dark, cold wintersrka=
sehave made Finland a pioneer in communications technology.
rk, cold wintersrka=
se
ve made Finland a pioneer in communications technology.
rk, cold wintersrka=
seThe connectivity of this Scandinavian country, with its relatively longtersrka=
se
tradition of competition in communications markets offers a key lesson forka=
se
the United States and other
ommunications markets offers a key lesson forka=
senations as they move into a less regulated era of telecommunicationssson forka=
se
services. The United States also could learn from Finland's andonssson forka=
se
Scandinavia's early adoption of
could learn from Finland's andonssson forka=
sehigh-quality wireless-communication standards, which lay the groundwork forrka=
se
cellular-phone and data technology that only recently have become availablea=
se
in the United
and data technology that only recently have become availablea=
seStates, and only in a few areas.
gy that only recently have become availablea=
se
ates, and only in a few areas.
gy that only recently have become availablea=
seFierce competition
a few areas.
gy that only recently have become availablea=
se
erce competition
a few areas.
gy that only recently have become availablea=
seThe battle for market share here is fierce. State-owned Telecom Finlandilablea=
se
Ltd. and Helsinki Telephone, an aggregation of local Finnish phoneandilablea=
se
companies that banded
hone, an aggregation of local Finnish phoneandilablea=
setogether, compete in all kinds of phone service.=20
l Finnish phoneandilablea=
se
gether, compete in all kinds of phone service.=20
l Finnish phoneandilablea=
se''Finland has always had several (phone companies) and some degree ofndilablea=
se
competition between them,'' said Arto Karila, professor of computer sciencea=
se
at Helsinki
etween them,'' said Arto Karila, professor of computer sciencea=
seUniversity of Technology and a longtime guru in the networking field. sciencea=
se
''Since the mid-1980s, competition has been gradually increased, and we nowa=
se
have the most
-1980s, competition has been gradually increased, and we nowa=
secompetitive telecom market anywhere, including competition in the localwe nowa=
se
loop.''
 telecom market anywhere, including competition in the localwe nowa=
se
loop.''
 telecom market anywhere, including competition in the localwe nowa=
seThe competition extends to data networking. Companies offer high-qualitye nowa=
se
Internet access, from low-speed home connections to one of the world's besta=
se
high-speed,
ss, from low-speed home connections to one of the world's besta=
sepublicly available data networks. And Scandinavia boasts majorhe world's besta=
se
telecommunications companies -- Ericsson in Sweden and Nokia Corp. ins besta=
se
Finland -- that have pushed
-- Ericsson in Sweden and Nokia Corp. ins besta=
setechnical and marketing boundaries.
csson in Sweden and Nokia Corp. ins besta=
se
chnical and marketing boundaries.
csson in Sweden and Nokia Corp. ins besta=
seFinnish telecommunications companies are ''years ahead ... when it comes tosta=
se
experience in competition and deploying technology to provide services forta=
se
customer needs,''
tition and deploying technology to provide services forta=
seKarila said.=20
''
tition and deploying technology to provide services forta=
se
rila said.=20
''
tition and deploying technology to provide services forta=
seThey have to be, said Olli Martikainen, vice president of research andes forta=
se
development at Telecom Finland. ''Every year, customers demand more,'' herta=
se
said.
ment at Telecom Finland. ''Every year, customers demand more,'' herta=
se
said.
ment at Telecom Finland. ''Every year, customers demand more,'' herta=
seMost personal voice communications will be handled over wireless networksherta=
se
before long, Martikainen said. In fact, he and others believe the number ofa=
se
cellular phone
tikainen said. In fact, he and others believe the number ofa=
senumbers will outstrip the fixed-line numbers.
d others believe the number ofa=
se
mbers will outstrip the fixed-line numbers.
d others believe the number ofa=
seEfficient, convenient
he fixed-line numbers.
d others believe the number ofa=
se
ficient, convenient
he fixed-line numbers.
d others believe the number ofa=
sePart of the allure is the cellular technology used widely throughoutnumber ofa=
se
Scandinavia and Europe, called GSM, which stands for Global System forer ofa=
se
Mobile Communications. It's
d GSM, which stands for Global System forer ofa=
seconsiderably more capable than the cellular service most widely used in theofa=
se
United States, efficiently handling data and voice. GSM is being adopted ina=
se
the United States,
iently handling data and voice. GSM is being adopted ina=
sein the form of PCS (Personal Communications Service), which was launcheded ina=
se
last year in Washington, D.C., and is spreading slowly to other cities.
ina=
se
last year in Washington, D.C., and is spreading slowly to other cities.
ina=
seIn Finland, your cellular phone number follows you everywhere, a majores.
ina=
se
convenience. Add to that a reasonable price for service -- almost as cheapna=
se
as a fixed line (and
at a reasonable price for service -- almost as cheapna=
seonly the person making the call is charged for the air time) -- and it'sheapna=
se
easy to see why it appeals to people like Vuorenp=E4=E4, whose phone was one=
 of
many that rang on the
als to people like Vuorenp=E4=E4, whose phone was one=
 oftrain to Tampere.
 the
als to people like Vuorenp=E4=E4, whose phone was one=
 of
ain to Tampere.
 the
als to people like Vuorenp=E4=E4, whose phone was one=
 ofVuorenp=E4=E4, 28, splits her time between Helsinki, where she attends the one=
 of
university, and her family's home in Tampere, about 125 miles north. A celle=
 of
phone was the only
family's home in Tampere, about 125 miles north. A celle=
 ofpractical choice, she said. Most of her immediate family has gotten with celle=
 of
the program: Her father, brother and sister all have their own cellularcelle=
 of
numbers. Only her mother
rother and sister all have their own cellularcelle=
 ofhas chosen not to get one.=20
her and sister all have their own cellularcelle=
 of
s chosen not to get one.=20
her and sister all have their own cellularcelle=
 ofNokia, of Helsinki, sells some of the world's most popular cell phones andelle=
 of
is pushing into new areas. It just unveiled the Nokia 9000 Communicator, ale=
 of
handheld device
ew areas. It just unveiled the Nokia 9000 Communicator, ale=
 ofthat combines a phone, display screen and keyboard.
ia 9000 Communicator, ale=
 of
at combines a phone, display screen and keyboard.
ia 9000 Communicator, ale=
 ofWith the 9000, ''we are creating a new kind of behavior'' in personalator, ale=
 of
communications, said Kaj G. Linden, senior vice president for technology ate=
 of
Nokia. ''We don't know
 G. Linden, senior vice president for technology ate=
 ofwhat the "killer' applications will be.''
r vice president for technology ate=
 of
at the "killer' applications will be.''
r vice president for technology ate=
 ofInternet-access provider EUnet Finland has already begun offeringechnology ate=
 of
connections via the Nokia 9000. The service, called EUnetTraveller,ology ate=
 of
provides international access to
e service, called EUnetTraveller,ology ate=
 ofthe Internet and e-mail in any country that supports GSM technology.
logy ate=
 of
e Internet and e-mail in any country that supports GSM technology.
logy ate=
 ofWhile Finns have taken to cell phones in huge numbers, they still ranklogy ate=
 of
slightly behind Norway and Sweden in per-capita usage, Linden said. Phoneate=
 of
companies are
 Norway and Sweden in per-capita usage, Linden said. Phoneate=
 ofpractically giving away phones in those countries, he said.
en said. Phoneate=
 of
actically giving away phones in those countries, he said.
en said. Phoneate=
 ofBut Finns lead the Scandinavian pack -- and every other nation except Phoneate=
 of
Iceland -- when it comes to their adoption of the Internet. One reason isate=
 of
education. A college
es to their adoption of the Internet. One reason isate=
 ofeducation is almost standard. Martikainen of Telecom Finland also notedn isate=
 of
that as is the trend in the United States, every Finnish college studentsate=
 of
has had Internet access for
nited States, every Finnish college studentsate=
 ofyears.
d Internet access for
nited States, every Finnish college studentsate=
 of
ars.
d Internet access for
nited States, every Finnish college studentsate=
 ofThe competition in phone service has spilled over into the networkingudentsate=
 of
arena, where Finland is an acknowledged world leader in deployment --entsate=
 of
though Finns tend to buy
 acknowledged world leader in deployment --entsate=
 oftheir products from U.S. networking companies.
leader in deployment --entsate=
 of
eir products from U.S. networking companies.
leader in deployment --entsate=
 ofTelecom Finland and other competitors were among the earliest anywhere totsate=
 of
offer public data networks, and introduced many key networking technologiese=
 of
well ahead of
ta networks, and introduced many key networking technologiese=
 oftheir adoption in other nations, Karila said.
ny key networking technologiese=
 of
eir adoption in other nations, Karila said.
ny key networking technologiese=
 ofToday, Finnish companies have their pick of high-speed connections to thegiese=
 of
Internet, allowing them to use networks built by Telecom Finland and other
=
 oftelecommunications companies for moving around data without having to buildr
=
 of
their own corporate ''wide-area'' networks. Telecom Finland says it was the
=
 of
first company
rate ''wide-area'' networks. Telecom Finland says it was the
=
 ofin the world to offer commercial service in asynchronous transfer modewas the
=
 of
networking, a technology that handles voice, video and other data on one=
 line.


networking, a technology that handles voice, video and other data on one=
 line.
As in the United States, consumers are taking to the Internet in droves,ne=
 line.


and for similar reasons.
sumers are taking to the Internet in droves,ne=
 line.


and for similar reasons.
sumers are taking to the Internet in droves,ne=
 line.
''From home it's mostly entertainment,'' said Juha Wilkka, a graphicals,ne=
 line.


designer in Nutmijarva, a Helsinki suburb. ''I'm anxious to play Internet
 line.


games.''
n Nutmijarva, a Helsinki suburb. ''I'm anxious to play Internet
 line.


games.''
n Nutmijarva, a Helsinki suburb. ''I'm anxious to play Internet
 line.
But Wilkka, who first used the Net only a year ago, also plans to bring the
 line.


technology more fully into his business, not just for e-mail but also for
 line.


transferring his
lly into his business, not just for e-mail but also for
 line.
company's files to commercial printers.
, not just for e-mail but also for
 line.


mpany's files to commercial printers.
, not just for e-mail but also for
 line.
''The more you use it,'' he said, ''the more you want to use it.''
lso for
 line.


The more you use it,'' he said, ''the more you want to use it.''
lso for
 line.


The more you use it,'' he said, ''the more you want to use it.''
lso for
 line.


The more you use it,'' he said, ''the more you want to use it.''
lso for
 line.
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