tverkko

Tverkko is a municipal broadband and telecommunications initiative launched in Finland in 2018. The project was developed by a partnership between the City of Helsinki and the national telecom operator, with the goal of providing high‑speed internet access to all city residents and businesses. The network uses fiber‑optic technology, delivering symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second in most urban districts. Public Wi‑Fi hotspots, available throughout parks, transit hubs, and public buildings, are managed under the same infrastructure, enabling seamless connectivity for citizens and visitors.

In addition to consumer services, Tverkko supports a range of city services. Utility meters, traffic signals and emergency response systems are connected through the network, allowing real‑time data transmission and remote monitoring. The platform has also been used as a testbed for research in smart‑city technologies, with several universities collaborating on projects related to Internet of Things and predictive analytics.

Tverkko operates under a public‑private model: the city owns the backbone infrastructure, while service provision contracts are awarded to licensed telecom operators. This arrangement is intended to keep pricing competitive and to ensure long‑term maintenance and upgrades are conducted without overly burdening municipal budgets. The initiative has attracted attention as a possible template for similar projects across other European capitals.

Since its inception, Tverkko has expanded coverage to include 95 % of Helsinki’s population and has added a number of rural extensions to neighboring municipalities. According to the latest municipal report, the network’s average download speed surpasses 950 Mbps, and it has handled more than 3 million data transactions per day. The project is considered a key element of Finland’s broader strategy to increase digital inclusion and to support a resilient, future‑ready urban infrastructure.