Dimes Network Enables New Export Opportunities for Testbed Environments

Two Finnish companies have secured a unique opportunity to bring their research expertise to the Japanese telecommunications technology center Yokosuka Research Park.

 

Octopus Network, a wireless technology community of Oulu Innovation Research group, is building a test laboratory in Japan that allows local companies to evaluate their telecommunications products in a testbed network of European mobile phone technology. Usability and marketing research company Solutions Space will open a user-centric research environment in the same area. Octopus Network's test laboratory in Japan will only install the required radio-frequency base stations onsite, with all other network technology components to be located in Oulu, Finland.

 

"Before this Japanese manufacturers have not been able to test their solutions for European mobile networks in their home country. Second-generation mobile network technologies are mutually incompatible, and though European 3G phones do work in Japan, the 3G technology roadmaps are different. Therefore there is a great demand for this type of cross-market testbed platform," comments Mr. Eero Laine, Director of Octopus Network.

 

Solutions Space is implementing Japan's first user-centric research environment at Yokosuka Research Park. In user-centric research, test end users not only evaluate products, services and concepts, but also participate in the development and design process of these offerings.

 

"The Digital Media Service Innovations - Finland (Dimes) network has provided us with an excellent opportunity for expanding our operations. Our research environment enables Japanese and European companies to participate more actively in each other's markets," said Mr. Jaakko Villa, CEO, Solutions Space.

 

Yokosuka Research Park (YRP) is an ICT research town contributing to global radio and telecommunications technology. At YRP, industry, government, and academia collaborate in project planning, actual research and development. Opened in 1997, the center was founded by Japan's Ministry of internal Affairs and Communications, several leading Japanese companies and the City of Yokosuka.

 

"Japanese industrial companies have long required access to European telecoms technology in order to conduct the required R&D activities in their home country. When Yokosuka Research Park required fast access to suitable European partners, the Dimes network was the natural point of contact," said Mr. Kimmo Ojuva, President of Dimes Association.

 

The companies will launch the project with Yokosuka Research Park in early June 2008.

 

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