Published:  17.9.2019

Caruna and Digita have agreed on cooperation to explore the possibilities of utilising the land areas of Caruna’s electric stations in the placement of the base stations needed for mobile networks.

The increase in 5G mobile networks requires significantly more new cellular network base stations than previous-generation technologies. Caruna and Digita are working to determine the extent to which electrical network structures, such as electric stations, could operate as locations for the necessary new base stations. In the future, the need for base station locations will be increased by the higher frequencies used by the networks and the ever increasing use of cellular data.

As a major independent provider of digital infrastructure, Digita wants to develop and provide mobile operators with the infrastructure needed for cellular networks. Caruna’s comprehensive electrical network is an existing infrastructure, so it will also facilitate and further the construction of cellular network base stations.

“A reliable electrical network is an integral part of modern digital society, so it is natural to offer the potential of Caruna’s electrical infrastructure for the data transfer of mobile networks as well”, says Ville Karttunen, Director of New Services at Caruna, to explain the reasons for the project. The cooperation project does not involve building a new electrical network and it will not affect the quality or prices of electricity for the customers of the electrical network.

“In its strategy, Digita is increasingly investing in telecom business with the support of its new owner, Digital Colony. We are very pleased with the cooperation we are starting with Caruna. It will allow us to serve our operator customers more comprehensively and help develop mobile networks in Finland in this respect. We will also utilise the infrastructure to complement our own television, radio and IoT networks”, says Digita’s Chief Operating Officer Markus Ala-Hautala. Digita is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the new masts and facilities needed by the cellular base stations on Caruna’s electrical network properties.

Further information:

Caruna: Director of New Services Ville Karttunen,tel. +358 50 453 4205,firstname.lastname@caruna.fi
Caruna Media Desk +358 20 520 5500

Digita: Communications Director Minna Flink, tel. +358 40 742 8849, minna.flink(a)digita.fi

Caruna distributes electricity and maintains, repairs and builds a weatherproof electricity network for its 680,000 customers in South, Southwest and West Finland, as well as in the city of Joensuu, the sub-region of Koillismaa and Satakunta. In order to guarantee a reliable electricity supply to its customers under all circumstances, Caruna supervises its network 24/7. A weatherproof smart electricity network also provides a well-functioning energy system for the future when digital services increase, the traffic is electrified, and the consumer becomes a producer of energy. Caruna’s electrical network is approximately 87,600 kilometres long.www.caruna.fi,
Twitter @CarunaSuomi

Digita owns and operates the premier, nationwide terrestrial television and radio network in Finland and is the largest independent owner of telecom towers in the country. The company is a provider of digital infrastructure and services. Digita’s services include telecom towers, data centre and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions as well as future broadcasting services. Services are provided to the country’s largest mobile network operators, Internet and media companies, utilities and real estate owners. Digita employs 180 industry professionals nationwide.