Finland’s DNA launches new broadband network, promises to fix in-building issues

DNA has unveiled a new broadband network that promises 1GBps speeds and said it would overcome the infrastructure challenges associated with old buildings.

The operator, which has 1.1 million fixed-line subscribers, said a first phase of the new rollout would see about 300,000 households in the Helsinki Metropolitan region passed.

This is set to increase to more than 600,000 households within a year.

According to DNA, a typical family of four in Finland has between nine and 15 devices connected to the network.

It is using DOCSIS 3.0 for the new network, but highlighted how customers’ broadband speeds are being hampered by existing building infrastructure and wireless LAN.

For example, it said conventional telephone wiring means an ultra-fast core network “often won't make much difference” to the performance an end user receives.

To get over this problem, DNA said it was using the same HD cabling that is used to transmit HD TV or Ethernet if it is available.

To improve the “bottleneck” caused by wireless LAN, it is offering a new router provided by Sagemcom.

DNA predicted its network would reach speeds of 10 GBps in “a few years”.

Mikko Saarentaus, Head of DNA’s broadband business, said: “Networks with fast broadband speeds are easy to implement in new buildings but introducing them into the existing housing stock has proved more complicated.

“Gigabit-scale internet connections previously required many housing companies to carry out on-site cabling work or modernise the internal network.

“With the new-generation DNA Valokuitu Plus network, these superfast speeds will be made available to hundreds of thousands of ordinary homes without any changes to the existing facilities.”