A telecommunications operator must submit an electronic notification to Traficom before commencing operations. Traficom shall be immediately notified of any changes in the operations affecting the information entered in the notification or if the operator discontinues operations. These notifications are also submitted through an electronic form. A telecommunications operator subject to notification or licence is obliged to pay an annual information society fee to Traficom.
Instructions for submitting a notification
Which operations are covered by the notification obligation?
Submitting a telecommunications notification is mandatory for operators engaged in public telecommunications, i.e. the provision of network or communications services to a set of users not subject to any prior restriction.
Communications services comprise all services that entail the transmission of messages in a communications network as well as transfer and transmission services in communications networks, including mass communications networks.
Network services refer to services in which an operator provides a communications network in its ownership for the purpose of transmitting or distributing messages.
Operations for which a telecommunications notification must be submitted include but are not limited to the following:
To whom does the notification obligation apply?
The notification obligation applies to operators engaged in public telecommunications. The obligation is thus not limited to commercial companies, but also extends to other providers of communications and network services. Providers other than commercial companies should enter the details of the relevant entrepreneur, association, educational institution or other entity in the notification form's “name of the company” field.
The notification obligation does not apply to operators that exclusively provide number-independent interpersonal communications services. Number-independent interpersonal communications services include instant messaging services and email services.
How are telecommunications notifications processed?
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency sends the notifier confirmation of receipt within one week of the date on which the notification was submitted.
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency transmits the notifications it receives to the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).
Click here (External link) for more information about the rights and obligations of telecommunications operators.
