Finland's Minister of Housing and Communications requests that action be taken to draft legislative amendments necessary for making the 700 MHz band, currently allocated to TV broadcasting, available to mobile broadband.
According to Minister Kiuru, introducing the amendments would ensure that the change in allocation could be implemented at the start of 2017, which is also Parliament's will.
"The 700 MHz frequency band is currently being used for television broadcasting. The change in allocation is in line with the will that Parliament expressed in approving our Communications Policy Programme for Electronic Media in December 2012. For the necessary preparations and negotiations, it is important that our legislation is updated proactively", Minister Kiuru said.
Change of allocation of the 700 MHz band requires frequency coordination with Finland's neighbouring countries. Minister Kiuru intends to hold discussions on the matter with her colleagues during the spring, while coordination negotiations between public officials will also be launched as soon as possible.
In accordance with what was agreed at WRC-12 last year, a final decision on the uptake of the 700 band for mobile communications will be made at the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference.
As a result, Finland's legislative amendments concerning the change in allocation will be conditional until the final decision on the matter is made at WRC-15.
Further information
Ms Maaret Suomi, Senior Adviser for Legislative Affairs, tel. +358 40 700 5620
Mr Olli-Pekka Rantala, Director of the Communications Market Unit, tel. +358 50 344 3400
