Virve public authority network licence granted to Suomen Turvallisuusverkko

The Government has granted a licence for the Virve public authority radio network to Suomen Turvallisuusverkko on 28 November 2019. The state-owned Suomen Turvallisuusverkko currently maintains and operates the Virve network and its new licence is valid from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2033.

The frequency bands of the public authority radio network are 380-386 MHz and 390-396 MHz. The licence covers the whole of Finland, including the Åland Islands.

The Virve network enhances cooperation between the authorities. The users of the network include the rescue services, police, Finnish Defence Forces, Finnish Border Guard, Finnish Customs, social welfare and health, ministries and other operators responsible for safety and security of government and local authorities.

The 2018 legislative amendment enabled a broadband mobile communications service using mobile networks of commercial telecommunications companies to replace the current narrowband public communications service based on the public authority radio network in the future. The network licence granted has no impact on the introduction of a service solution for broadband public communications, as the current Virve and the new broadband Virve initially operate side by side. 

Inquiries:

Heidi Mäntylä, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 34 2073, [email protected], Twitter @heidimantylae