Communications policy
- General comments about communications policy
- Communications networks policy
- Policy on frequencies
- Communications services policy
1. General comments about communications policy
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Transport and
Communications include legislation related to infrastructure, i.e.
communications networks, data protection and data security
questions, promoting the availability of communications services,
frequency policy as well as legislation regarding the operation of
radio and television services.
The objective of communications policy is to ensure that all households, companies and organisations have functioning and reliable data connections and services.
The Ministry particularly promotes the provision of fast broad band connections. Connections must be high quality and moderately priced. Electronic transactions must be secure. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that traditional basic services, such as the delivery of the post, are maintained throughout the country.
The growth in importance in data and communications technology and the improvement of productivity are critical. In accordance with the Government's programme, public electronic services are being developed, accessibility to electronic communications is being improved, the opening of public sources of information is being promoted as is the adoption of intelligent solutions across all branches of the administration.
The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA), which works under the authority of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, collects television and operating license fees, grants short term operating licenses, monitors the contents of television and radio broadcasts and advertising as well as monitoring the level and quality of general postal services. In addition, the Authority manages radio frequencies and provides information about information security threats.
The Ministry's officials actively participate in strategic preparatory work in the European Union and other international co-operation contexts. The Minister of Communications represents Finland in the EU's Council of Telecommunications Ministers.
The Communications Policy Department at the Ministry of Transport and Communications is divided into two units. The Communications Networks Unit prepares laws and other strategic guidelines related to frequencies and network licences, broadband connections, information security and critical infrastructure protection.
The Media and Communications Services Unit is responsible for issues related to privacy protection and confidentiality of communications, information society projects, preparatory work for radio and television programme licences, postal services and subsidies for newspaper publishing.
2. Communications networks policy
Regulation by authorities aims to ensure technology neutrality and to optimise the quality, price and availability of services. Despite limited frequencies, a sparse population and small communications market, Finland offers communications services that are inexpensive and represent high standards compared internationally.
As technological possibilities and usage habits change, creating up-to-date conditions for the commercial offering of affordable services while ensuring basic services throughout the country is a key challenge for communications policy. Because of the investment-driven nature of communications networks, a successful communications policy requires a consistent long-term perspective.
3. Policy on frequencies
Legislation pertaining to radio frequencies promotes the efficient, appropriate and sufficiently disturbance-free use of radio frequencies. The purpose is also to ensure equitable availability of radio frequencies, to create optimal conditions for the free mobility of telecommunications devices and to enhance the efficiency of the communications market in public telecommunications.
Finnish policy on frequencies aims to ensure flexible and socially effective use of frequencies. Finland has often been the first country in the European Union and the world to make significant and innovative decisions related to policy on frequencies.
In November 2009, Finland held its first-ever frequency auction. This experiment includes a secondary market for frequencies and the opportunity to choose the service to be offered.
In the slightly longer term, the bases for issuing frequencies may change very radically. Cognitive radio offers interesting opportunities for increasing the flexible use of frequencies.
The television broadcasting market will see significant changes in 2017. These changes will probably allow frequency policy decisions necessitated by the strong growth of the Internet and wireless communications.
The digitalisation of television broadcasting in 2007 freed-up some frequencies in Finland. In June 2008, the Government decided to assign the 800-megahertz band to mobile broadband networks. However, most of the freed frequencies were retained for television broadcasting.
The frequency that was previously used for NMT 450 mobile communications has been assigned to new broadband technology. The use of UMTS is allowed at the very low 900-megahertz band. The 1800-megahertz band is assigned to the further development of UMTS for LTE.
4. Communications services policy
The Government's programme for 2011-2015 emphasises the citizen's right to participate in the information society and the digital world freely, irrespective of wealth, state of health, economic status or place of residence.
The Government's programme also includes measures against digital exclusion by supporting skills in using online services for older people as well as by developing services and technology aimed at them.
During the terms of this government, sources of information produced using public funds will be opened up more and more for use by citizens and companies. Compatibility between public information systems will be ensured by using open interfaces and standards.
Information networks will be used to open up the preparation of decisions to citizens. The use of social media and other interactive data and communications technology in interaction between the administration and citizens will be increased.