High demand for radio frequencies ‒ processing continues in the Government

In the application round for radio licences, which ended at the end of July this year, a new national frequency block FB 26, released from Yle Radio Puhe, was applied for, as well as other individual frequencies from different localities. Three companies applied for the new national frequency block and the Helsinki frequency attracted up to 11 applicants. “The radio channel supply in Finland is extensive and radio reaches us Finns comprehensively. The frequencies to be allocated in the supplementary licence rounds of the radio will allow for further expansion of the FM radio content offering. This supports the development of diverse programme offerings at both national and local level,” says Head of Spectrum Management and Media Suvi Juurakko-Lehikoinen.

New content for several regions 

Traficom has granted licences to those localities where there were sufficient frequencies for all applicants and the applicants met the conditions for granting the licence. “The new frequencies sought to expand the coverage areas of existing radio channels in particular, but frequencies were also sought for entirely new radio channels. HS-Solutions Oy and Mökkiradio Oy received licences as new operators in the radio industry,” tells Senior Specialist Eliisa Reenpää. A large proportion of these operators' applications are still partly transferred to the Government, as the applications also included frequencies that have been applied for by several operators. 

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency granted the following frequencies:

Bauer Media Oy

• FB 12 - SuomiRock: Alajärvi 104.3 MHz, Seinäjoki 92.6 MHz, Ähtäri 102.9 MHz.
• FB 18 - Radio City: Alajärvi 103.1 MHz, Karstula 94.9 MHz.
• Ostrobothnia 2 - Radio Pooki: Iisalmi 90.8 MHz, Ikaalinen 91.2 MHz, Kajaani 88.0 MHz, Kankaanpää 107.2 MHz.

HS-Solutions Oy

• Seinäjoki 1: Seinäjoki 90.4 Mhz.

Järviradio Oy:

• FB 15 - Järviradio: Varkaus 94.3 MHz.

Mökkiradio Oy:

• FB 27: Inari 95.7, Kolari 107.4 MHz, Padasjoki 99.0 MHz, Sotkamo 97.1 MHz, Varkaus 87.7 MHz.

Sanoma Media Finland Oy:

• FB 8 - EasyHits: Loimaa 102.6 MHz, Pihtipudas 106.0 MHz, Punkalaidun 107.0 MHz, Raahe 89.5 MHz, Rovaniemi 106.8 MHz, Sotkamo 97.7 MHz.

Suomen lähiradiot Oy:

• Kuopio-Iisalmi 2 - Radio Sandels: Inari 100.1 MHz, Kokkola 91.8 MHz, Pelkosenniemi 89.6 MHz, Tervola 100.1 MHz.

If there are more applicants than there are available frequencies in the region, the processing of applications is always transferred to the Government. Applications for the national frequency block FB 26 and applications for the Helsinki frequency, as well as a number of other applications, were transferred in whole or in part to the Government for decision. All applicants have been notified of the transfer and the processing of their licence applications at Traficom has ended. The processing of Alfa Media Group Oy's AM radio licence application is still ongoing at the agency.