Riding Santa’s Wave, Remote Artic North Aiming for High-Tech Fast Lane
Chilly temperatures and a sparse population haven’t stopped the Finnish province of Lapland – dubbed Santa’s true home – from pushing to become a high-tech hub.
Associated Press Writer
ROVANIEMI, Finland (AP) – Spurred by the popularity of Santa Claus who
attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually to this remote Arctic
region, the Finnish province of Lapland has set its sights on becoming a
northern high-tech nucleus.
But it may be difficult in the sparsely populated area devoid of large urban
communities, where the 200,000 reindeer roaming the tundra outnumber the
inhabitants.
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This town of 35,000, just south of the Arctic Circle, has seen strong growth
in recent decades thanks largely to efforts by local decision-makers and the
Finnish government in promoting the region as Santa’s ”real home.”
”Naturally, we do ride on Santa’s fame and take advantage of it but really
we don’t have much to do with him,” said Eila Linna, head of a regional
business development agency.
Making use of growth generated by millions of visitors since Santa’s Village
opened some 20 years ago, the agency has promoted getting Internet broadband
to remote villages in the vast region.
Earlier this year, it helped launch an alert system advising mobile phone
users when the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are visible – believed
to be the first of its kind in the world.
The polar lights – caused by discharges of electricity from the sun – are
often visible in Rovaniemi on clear nights from October to March. Sensors
pick up the light and transfer the information to a local laboratory which
automatically sends a message to mobile subscribers.
”The service is in real-time and the Japanese especially love it,” said
Miikka Raulo, director of the Center of Expertise for the Experience
Industry. ”They rent mobile phones on arrival with great hopes of seeing
the lights, and they haven’t been disappointed.”
Tourism, that last year generated some euro350 million (US$460 million),
remains the fastest growing sector providing work for more than 75 percent
of the labor force in and around Rovaniemi, 830 kilometers (510 miles) north
of the Finnish capital, Helsinki. Only 23 percent earn their livelihood from
production and processing.
Looking beyond travel, local government and businesses want to provide more
opportunities by spending more than euro1 million (US$1.4 million) for
increasing broadband access to 95 percent of Lapland’s 190,000 inhabitants
from the current 80 percent – already a high percent in a population spread
out among 300 villages in an area which makes up for almost a third of
Finland.
Inspired by a government program to provide broadband to about half of
Finland’s 2.4 million households by the end of 2005 and fierce competition
by service providers, the number of subscribers in Lapland has jumped from
13 percent of all households in May to more than 30 percent at the end of
November, and it’s growing.
But project manager Arto Leppajarvi concedes the target might prove
difficult.
“You have to remember that Lapland is a very challenging environment. People
are spread out far and wide and this discourages operators,” said
Leppajarvi, who heads the province’s Internet project.
But for small communities wireless technology is becoming increasing
important for remote areas, he said.
“This is a lifeline for them, especially with technology improving all the
while,” Leppajarvi said. “We are putting a lot of effort into this, and
Rovaniemi is pushing ahead as big regional IT center.”
And planners are banking on local interest.
Mobile phones operating on GSM, or Global System of Mobile communications,
technology and GPRS (General Packet Radio System) can be used all over
Lapland, with enhanced EDGE and wireless hotspots available in some built-up
areas.
The town also has one of the world’s most northerly centers of learning –
the University of Lapland – which has a separate department, the Arctic
Center, that specializes in the local environment, globalization and ethnic
minorities.
“It’s by no means a far-fetched concept to make Rovaniemi a high-tech
center,” said Timo Koivuranta, a research professor at the center. “They are
building on a good base, and in this wireless day and age of not physically
having to work at any one spot, this is as good a place as any.”
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