Xamk to Implement ‘Smart Campuses’ 5G Test Network with Nokia Equipment

Following a recent license granted by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, Xamk will roll out its 5G test network across campuses in Mikkeli and Savonlinna, as well as at the Active Life Lab in Mikkeli’s Saimaa Stadiumi. The initiative, supported by the South Savo Regional Council and the European Regional Development Fund, is part of Xamk’s Smart Campuses project.

Commitment to innovation

Today’s announcement underscores Finland’s commitment to fostering research, innovation, and a thriving startup ecosystem. Nokia’s 5G equipment is already empowering research initiatives at other Finnish institutions, including Aalto University, University of Oulu, LUT University, and Savonia UAS.

“5G test networks are part of Nokia Oyj’s research cooperation with universities”, said Mr. Olli Liinamaa, 5G Ecosystem Activities, Nokia Oyj, Finland.

5G technology is designed to increase speed, reduce latency, and improve the flexibility of wireless services. Xamk’s 5G test network, in particular, supports companies and other organizations in South Savo as they develop products and services aligned with the region’s smart specialization strategy. South Savo’s key focus areas include water, forestry, tourism, well-being, and digitalization.

Xamk invites international partners to use this network for R&D activities, providing a robust platform for collaborative innovation.

A challenging geography

South Savo’s geography—with its sparse population, extensive waterways, dense forests, and rocky terrain—poses  unique challenges for mobile infrastructure. Effective signal optimization and adaptive bandwidth management are essential to support reliable connectivity across the region.

5G networks unlock new possibilities for services benefiting households, businesses, leisure residents, and tourists. Anticipated applications include education, culture, healthcare, well-being, agriculture, food production, forestry, industry, logistics, and water management. Initiatives across these areas are already underway.

For example, the private 5G network at EcoSairila’s wastewater treatment plant in Mikkeli will not only optimize plant operations but also enable virtual access for research and education worldwide, offering a unique opportunity to study its innovative processes from any location.

At Saimaa Stadiumi’s Active Life Lab, the 5G network will facilitate real-time data collection from numerous sensors to assess health metrics with greater accuracy. This integration allows for a more comprehensive understanding of individual health status and paves the way for advancements in preventive health and wellness monitoring.

High-tech modular cottages

One of the most innovative projects to utilize this network is the 5G Mokki Tech Space concept. Styled as high-tech modular cottages, each “Mokki” unit is equipped with ultra-fast 5G, XR technology, and AI, offering immersive environments for remote learning, work, and healthcare. These units provide transformative benefits to communities locally and internationally, such as rural areas in Africa where connectivity is limited.

The 5G Mokki concept has drawn inspiration from EDUCase, a Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture pilot project promoting sustainable collaboration in higher education. The pilot network, which Xamk is a member of, collaborates with academic and societal partners in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, aiming to promote sustainable collaboration in higher education and innovation.

One of the Mokkis’ most promising early use cases is their deployment in Africa, in partnership with African universities, both on campuses and in rural areas, where the units provide the added benefits of reliable internet connectivity, stable electricity, and business connections.

A bold vision for the future

The 5G Mokki initiative aligns with global sustainability goals, offering a solution for remote education, workforce development, and digital climate action through reduced travel and resource efficiency.

It represents a bold vision for a future where education is more accessible and efficient, bridging the gap between students, universities, and the global workforce. These units will enable young African professionals to not only complete internationally recognized university degrees but also access remote employment and business opportunities.

In turn, companies and organizations in Europe and North America will be able to tap into African talent through these same remote connections. Businesses can make their “digital twin” work environments available to a global workforce. Such XR-assisted work could involve, for instance, the remote management and control of production plants, home health care, or medical treatments and procedures.

Mokkis help reduce the need for travel, construction, and other sources of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby supporting the goal of keeping global warming within the 1.5 degrees Celsius target set by the Paris Climate Conference.

5G Mokki is an official partner of the Expo 2025 Osaka Nordic Pavilion. As a country that suffers from a lack of talent, Japan will benefit significantly from the XR remote workforce provided through the 5G Mokki Tech Space.

Additional information

Xamk 

South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) is a leading national and international university of applied sciences, known for its extensive cooperation in education, research, development, and innovation, particularly with universities and companies. Xamk is Finland’s largest university of applied sciences in terms of R&D project volume.

New RDI activity in South Savo with 5G project

A project granted by the South Savo Regional Council and co-financed by the European Union Regional Development Fund, which will build 5G test networks for Xamk’s South Savo campuses. In addition, the project provides training in the use of 5G technology and creates 5G R&D projects in cooperation with companies and other organizations. 5G Smart Campuses is one of the key R&D areas. RDI projects are created in accordance with South Savo’s smart specialization strategy, especially for the sectors Water, Food, Forest and digitalization. The 5G test network being built is also the R&D environment of Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) South Savo.

EDUCase

The EDUCase Platform is a pilot initiative of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture’s Global Program 2021–2024. It engages faculty, academics, students, and staff in interdisciplinary efforts to build lasting partnerships for science, innovation, entrepreneurship, and educational impact related to global challenges. With a network of 11 universities and 15 universities of applied sciences, it represents the majority of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Finland. The network is coordinated by Aalto University.

EXPO 2025 OSAKA

The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, Japan, from April 13 through October 13, 2025, brings together people and innovations from around the world in an effort to address issues facing mankind on a global scale. The event’s goals are to contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as to achieving Japan’s national strategy Society 5.0.

The strategy aims to develop a human-centered society that progresses economically and resolves social issues through a system that combines both cyber and physical spaces in a sophisticated manner. It refers to a new form of society chronologically following hunting, farming, industry, and information societies. A society that is able to resolve a variety of issues on a global scale with technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, big data, and Biotechnology is a society that will have achieved the SDGs.

COP28

The United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28) brought together world leaders, ministers, and negotiators in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 13, 2023, to agree on actions to address climate change. At COP28, twelve African universities presented a proposal for 5G Tech Spaces as an important Digital Climate Action tool.

For media enquiries:

Dr. Jari Handelberg, Project Manager, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences

Email: jari.handelberg ( at ) xamk.fi

Phone: +358 50 4358736

Photo caption:

5G Mokki designers Antti Hevosmaa and Antti-Oskari Sinkkonen. Photo credit: Johannes Terhemaa.