Applying for a frequency reservation and radio licence | Traficom
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Transport and Communications Agency

Applying for a frequency reservation and radio licence

Before applying for a radio licence for the radio frequencies required for the use of a radio system, it is recommended that an application be submitted for a frequency reservation for designing a radio system or in situations where the procurement of a radio transmitter requires advance information on available radio frequencies.

As a result, the applicant can ensure at an early stage that appropriate frequencies are available for the use of the planned radio network. A frequency reservation will only be granted if the preconditions set for granting it are fulfilled. To reserve technically purposeful frequencies for applicants, the radio network plan to be attached with the application must be based on a real and feasible radio system project.

A radio licence can be applied for directly for a radio network in place of a frequency reservation. A radio licence can be granted without a frequency reservation if the licence application, including the attached radio network plan, is sufficiently detailed and feasible for granting a radio licence, and other preconditions set for granting a radio licence are fulfilled.

Please send a freely formulated application for a radio license via the contact form or by sending an email to radiotaajuudet@traficom.fi.

The application must include the following information. As a basis, applicants can use pages 1–4 of the PMR licence application form, . All the information listed below must be submitted, even if it is not included in the form:

  1. Details of the holder of the radio licence being applied for and invoicing information for collecting the annual frequency fee.
  2. User of the radio network service, if other than the applicant.
  3. Contact person for the radio licence application, and their role in the implementation of the radio network.
  4. Information on an agreement related to the network referred to in the application, a preliminary agreement or other document between the network user and applicant, if the applicant is not the user of the radio network service.
  5. Purpose of the radio network, e.g., a private radio network for a limited group of users, an open access network (public telecommunications) or FWA, and information on whether mobile terminal equipment is to be used in the network.
  6. Geographic area of use (marked on a base map), the value of field strength used in planning at a height of 1.5 metres at the edge of the area of use. The network must be planned in such a way that the field strength caused by it is as small as possible outside the area of use. The maximum permissible field strength at the edge of the area of use/outside the area of use is specified in the licence.
  7. Information on whether the network is an indoor or outdoor network.
  8. The number of frequencies being applied for, including justifications.
  9. The planned number of equipment (base stations and terminal equipment).
  10. Location data on base stations and other base station data mentioned on page 3 of the form template.
  11. Technical data on terminal equipment.
  12. The planned number of subscriptions/customers.
  13. Additional information, if any.

Traficom processes the radio network plan included in the frequency reservation application.

 

  1.  The geographic area of use of the radio network is specified in the frequency reservation.
  2. The technical parameters (maximum values), according to which the network must be implemented, are defined in the reservation.
  3. The frequency reservation is granted for a period of six months, during which the client must implement its plan and apply for an actual radio licence. A frequency fee will be collected for the frequency reservation based on the grounds for fees laid down in the decree of the Ministry of Transport and Communications on frequency fees (1454/2019). The fee is calculated using the formula for the general frequency fee for local mobile networks. Provisions on the frequency reservation fee are laid down in section 12.
  4. If the radio licence is not applied for during the validity of the frequency reservation, the reservation will expire automatically at the end of its validity without any separate decision. However, the validity of the frequency reservation can also be extended upon application. The frequency reservation will expire when a radio licence is granted for the use of the radio network referred to in the reservation. The frequency fee collected for the licence will be credited, insofar as it overlaps with the previously paid frequency reservation fee.
Decree of the Ministry of Transport Communications on administrative frequency fees and other fees collected by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency for spectrum management services (1454/2019, original version, in Finnish).Decree of the Ministry of Transport Communications on the amendment of the decree on administrative frequency fees and other fees collected by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency for spectrum management services (975/2020, in Finnish).

Before a network can be deployed, a radio licence must be applied for with the following preconditions. The network cannot be deployed before a radio licence has been granted.

  1. If the network is implemented fully in accordance with the frequency reservation, this can be referred to in the licence application, and it is not necessary to submit the information again.
  2. If the licence application deviates from the information included in the frequency reservation, the deviations must be mentioned in the application.
  3. If the preconditions for granting a licence are fulfilled, Traficom will grant a radio licence on the basis of the licence application, determining the technical data and conditions for the use of the network.
  4. The licence is valid for a maximum of six years. A radio licence can normally be granted again upon application. It is recommended that a licence be applied for well before the validity of the previous licence expires. A frequency fee will be collected for the radio licence based on the grounds for fees laid down in the decree of the Ministry of Transport and Communications on frequency fees. The fee is calculated using the formula for the general frequency fee for local mobile networks.
  5. The licence can be revoked if it is discovered, during the validity of the licence, that the frequencies are not in use.

A radio licence can also be granted directly upon application if the implementation of a network can start after a radio licence has been granted.

Decree of the Ministry of Transport Communications on administrative frequency fees and other fees collected by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency for spectrum management services (1454/2019, original version, in Finnish).Decree of the Ministry of Transport Communications on the amendment of the decree on administrative frequency fees and other fees collected by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency for spectrum management services (975/2020, in Finnish).

Other use of frequency bands 2300–2320 MHz and 24.25–25.1 GHz

Frequency band 2300–2320 MHz is intended for use by wireless cameras. To protect this use, local networks may not be deployed in certain geographic areas or, for example, power restrictions may need to be imposed on local networks. These include areas in which several wireless cameras are used simultaneously and regularly. However, the use of wireless cameras in the 2300–2320 MHz frequency band is being discontinued.

The 24.3–25.1 GHz frequency band is reserved, in a Government decree, for research and development (in Finnish), testing and teaching in certain geographic areas in Espoo, Tampere, and Oulu.

Definitions related to local networks

  • “Mobile network” means a network which is based on 3GPP technology and uses mobile terminal equipment.
  • “Local operations” means operations that are local, based on the number of customers/subscriptions, the geographic area of use or other purpose of use (e.g., factory, port, shopping centre, airport, sports facility, district, village or campus).
  • “Minor network service” means operations that are minor in terms of the number of users, financial impact or significance in communications markets. Minor operations also cover operations that are minor based on the number of frequencies, other technical implementation or the service provided.

“Public mobile network” means a communications network which is used to provide communications services for an unlimited group of users.

“Private mobile network” means a communications network which is used to provide communications services for a limited group of users.

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