2017 Finland - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Digital Media - Statistics and Analyses

Finland’s regulator preps for 3.5GHz auction for 5G services from 2018

Finland’s telecom market is among the more progressive in Europe, with considerable emphasis by operators to test-bed technologies, particularly in the mobile and broadband sectors. These efforts have been supported by the regulator which has provided additional spectrum for telecom services and is preparing spectrum auctions in two pioneer bands to enable mobile operators to trial 5G services from 2018.

As a result of these efforts the country enjoys among the highest broadband and mobile penetration rates in the region, with customers able to make use of the latest iterations of technologies including DOCSIS3.1, carrier aggregation with LTE-A, and GPON fibre infrastructure.

Finland has developed one of most advanced mobile markets in Europe, being among the first to launch 3G and LTE services and now in the forefront of 5G developments. The regulator in late 2016 auctioned spectrum in the 700MHz to extend the availability of LTE services nationally, while it also planned to make available to network operators spectrum in the 3.5GHz band by the end of 2018. This band is one of the pioneer bands which have been assigned for 5G across Europe. The Finnish vendor Nokia Networks is involved in trialling 5G technologies, mainly in cooperation with Elisa.

Growth in the number of mobile subscribers has slowed, in line with the high penetration, while the market has shifted to mobile data and mobile broadband. Although market competition and regulated tariffs and termination rates have put pressure on operator revenue, in June 2017 they successfully petitioned for a year’s extension to retail roaming tariffs after these were abolished across the European Union.

Finland’s high broadband penetration has been the result of astute regulatory measures which have encouraged market competition. Companies have also been keen to invest in new technologies in a bid to address demand for improved services among customers. The government has set demanding broadband delivery targets, and as of mid-2017 it was preparing targets to be achieved by 2025 and 2030. This would incorporate a mix of fixed-line and mobile technologies, with the former focussed on FttP and DOCSIS3.1 technologies and the latter on Gigabit LTE and 5G.

This report introduces the key aspects of the Finnish telecom market, providing data on the fixed network services sector together with an overview of important regulatory issues including interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability and carrier preselection. The major operators are profiled, while the telecoms infrastructure and fixed telephony services are also assessed. In addition the report covers the fixed and wireless broadband markets, together with developments in related technologies such as FttP, powerline broadband, wireless broadband, Wi-Fi and internet via satellite. It also provides broadband forecasts to 2022. Analyses of the mobile market are supported by the latest statistics, while the report also assesses the key regulatory issues and the development of emerging technologies including LTE and 5G.

Key developments:

• Nokia launches key technologies for the Smart Tampere project;
• Elisa expands its interest in Estonia with Starman acquisition;
• Regulator concedes roaming charge extension to June 2018;
• Telia expands LTE-A footprint;
• DNA trials Gigabit LTE service using carrier aggregation technology;
• Nokia and Telia trial NB-IoT using spectrum in the 800MHz band;
• Nokia trialling 5G technologies;
• Regulator prepares for 3.5GHz auction for mobile broadband use;
• Elisa trials Nokia’s XGS-PON technology providing data at up to 10Gb/s;
• Government prepares national broadband targets for 2025 and 2030;
• DNA contracts Teleste to provide DOCSIS3.1 equipment;
• Telia trials G.fast technology with Huawei;
• DNA extends 1Gb/s fibre footprint to more than 600,000 households;
• Report update includes the regulator’s market data update to December 2016, telcos’ financial and operating data to Q2 2017, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Telia Finland, Finnet Group, DNA, Elisa, TDC Finland, Tele2, Digita, Helsinki Television, Sonera Cable, Canal+, Yleisradio.