Over the next decade, tens of billions of connected devices are expected to evolve into intelligent, programmable systems, transforming nearly every industry. Transportation and resource management, education and work, and healthcare and wellness are among the sectors poised for major change. This shift will create significant opportunities across industries while placing new demands on network capacity and performance.
Numerous organizations around the world are working to make this vision a reality, and Nokia is a prominent participant. Through its research arm Bell Labs and in collaboration with several Finnish academic institutions, Nokia has launched a 5G initiative called WIVE (Wireless for Verticals). WIVE is designed to enable new industries to take strategic advantage of fifth-generation wireless technology.
The WIVE project runs for two years and is co-funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation (Tekes), together with a consortium of industry, research and academic partners. Participants include Nokia, Teleste, Telia, ABB, Cargotec Kalmar, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle), Digita, the regulator FICORA, major Finnish universities and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
WIVE focuses on multiple verticals, including media and entertainment, and machine-type connectivity across critical application areas. The project targets Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) to support smart grids and remotely controlled machinery, as well as Massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC) to enable large numbers of connected devices with low cost and minimal energy consumption. These capabilities are essential for industries that require reliable, timely communication and efficient scaling of IoT deployments.
In addition to WIVE, Nokia has recently entered into an agreement with Telefónica to explore technologies that support a smooth and efficient evolution toward 5G aligned with Telefónica’s commercial goals. The two companies will analyze how enhanced 4G and emerging 5G network performance can drive the development of compelling new services and business models.
By advancing 5G technologies and collaborating across industry and academia, initiatives like WIVE and partnerships such as the Nokia–Telefónica evaluation aim to prepare networks to meet the growing demands of connected devices and to unlock new value for multiple sectors.
Picture credit: Nokia