Finland able to start mobile communications tests within 800 frequency band

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 17.12.2010 14.12
Press release

Finland and Russia have held negotiations on making the 800 frequency band available for mobile communications. As a result of the negotiations, Finland may begin the construction of LTE test networks within this frequency band.

Agreement was reached in Moscow on 17 December at a meeting of the working group on frequency management, a body operating under the Finnish-Russian Commission for Economic Cooperation.
Director-General Juhapekka Ristola, leader of the Finnish delegation, considers the outcome of the negotiations a significant step forward. The meeting was preceded by a technical meeting between frequency management experts of both countries.

In Finland, a decision had already been made at an earlier stage to allocate the 800 frequency band to new, high-speed mobile communications networks. In Russia, the same frequency band is used by air navigation systems, which is why taking it into use in Finland requires frequency coordination.

Test use must not interfere with frequency use in Russia, or the current use in Finland. The spectrum authorities of the two countries continue their cooperation, exchanging information on issues such as the impacts of test use.

The 800 band has excellent technical features as it enables network construction at considerably lower costs than the 1800 and 2600 MHz frequency ranges, which have also been allocated to next generation mobile communications systems.

Further information

Mr Olli-Pekka Rantala, Director of Communications Networks Unit, tel. +358 50 344 3400
Ms Kirsi Karlamaa, Director, Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, tel. +358 40 823 2121