1. NORTH KARELIA – MODERN, SPARSELY POPULATED REGION (8 inh./km2)
eRegio project – Regional Council of North Karelia
The easternmost region of the EU
Competitiveness, employment (Phasing in) region ( )
A common border of 300 km
with Russia
Population ( FIN 3,2 %)
km2, (8 inh./km2)
14 municipalities
North Karelia is the easternmost region of EU. Region belongs to the obj. 1 target area, which means that we have at least till the end of next year the highest structural EU funding per capita in Europe. We have a common border with Russia. Population is that is 3,2 % out of total Finland. Population is estimated to decrease in the near future.
Region is one of the 19 regions of Finland and is best known as a region of forests, because we have the highest knowhow of wood and forest technology. EFI has its mainoffice is in town Joensuu.
The Regional Council of North Karelia is a public regional authority in accordance with the Regional Development Act (national law). The areas of responsibility of the Regional Council includes:
economic development,
regional planning,
safeguarding of regional interests and
creation of the knowledge infrastructure. The Regional Council of North Karelia is a federation owned by the region’s 16 municipalities. The goal of the Regional Council of North Karelia is to promote regional development initiatives, the regional balance in co-operation with the State and the local government, businesses, universities, research institutes and non-governmental organisations. The Regional Council of North Karelia is the authority responsible for co-ordination and management of the regional funds, Objective 1 programmes. It also has own transnational projects such as Euregio Karelia.
eRegio / North Karelia / Jarmo Heiskanen, RegioStars2010 Award 1

2. BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS in NORTH KARELIA
2003 First National broadband strategy was set in Finland
Target: Broadband for all
Regional authorities were responsible of implementations and actions
2003 Regional broadband strategy formulation started in North Karelia
Research report of broadband availability and coverage in the region
Recommendations and action plan for investments and improvements on broadband availability
Proposals and actions raised during the process to boost the process
Preparations for the implementations of the strategy with municipalities and regional authority (funding) started
First thing was to get the municipalities involved and interested in the local level
eRegio / North Karelia / Jarmo Heiskanen, RegioStars2010 Award

3. BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS in NORTH KARELIA
2004 – eRegio project
Co-ordinative project, nationally financed, one aim was broadband
Give expertise for municipalities in planning the investment projects
Co-ordination and support for 16 municipalities in a joint, aggregated broadband buy-up for municipalities
Public call for offers, competitions and procurement processes started in each municipality to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas (with the assistant and expertise of eRegio project co-ordination)
ERDF – Regional finance support was reserved for investments
More than 150 new villages were covered by broadband
50 antennas and a lot of dsl boxes were built in the region
eRegio / North Karelia / Jarmo Heiskanen, RegioStars2010 Award

4. BROADBAND COVERAGE 2004-2008 74 % 98 %
eRegio / North Karelia / Jarmo Heiskanen, RegioStars2010 Award

5. BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS FOLLOW UP in NORTH KARELIA
2008 Second National broadband strategy was set in Finland; 100 MB broadband for all 2015
Regional authorities are responsible of implementations
Target: next generation access by fibre optics network availability for all
2009 Regional authorities activities
formulation of an action plan and investment plan for high speed broadband availability in rural areas where the market failure exists
North Karelia is leading a national project in Eastern and Northern Finland (5 regions)
to implement the regional plans based on fibre optic network investments
support municipalities, regions to reach the target
100 MB for all in rural areas where market failure exists
eRegio / North Karelia / Jarmo Heiskanen, RegioStars2010 Award