Telecommunications market of FinlandPhone Cards, Calling Cards |
| Finland has a small but an advanced telecom market that has been an early adopter of technologies. The national incumbent, Sonera, maintained its dominance of data and telephony infrastructure and service after its privatisation, leading the field in business data communications, Internet and broadband services. Broadband penetration in 2005 was far ahead of the EU average, though the country’s take-up of new fixed-line technologies such as DSL has been fragmented, with very different regional experiences. Finland has an extensive cable network in urban areas, and also a limited WLAN and broadband powerline presence. This Paul Budde report profiles Finland’s fixed and wireless broadband markets in 2005 and early 2006, together with developments in related technologies such as FttH, powerline broadband, wireless broadband, WiFi and Internet via satellite. |
| Although small by European standards, Finland’s broadcasting market is well advanced, with satellite, cable, deflector and analogue terrestrial transmission platforms. The public broadcaster YLE has three free-to-air channels and four digital channels serving the Finnish market, while two commercial broadcasters have one free-to-air channel each and seven digital channels between them. Digital Terrestrial TV has been and operating since August 2001, interactive TV (iTV) has been developing well, and almost half of TV homes can receive cable TV. The incumbent, TeliaSonera, and cable TV companies and other providers offer VoIP and other triple play services to a growing market, and have added mobile services to their traditional pay TV and broadband packages. This Paul Budde report presents a comprehensive overview of Finland’s broadcast platforms and major service providers in 2005 and early 2006, and notes the status of digital TV via terrestrial, cable and satellite platforms and emerging triple play services. |
| Finland has a small but progressive telecom market, with a tradition of adopting new technologies. It has one of the highest broadband penetration rates in Europe, while mobile take-up has continued to grow steadily. This Paul Budde report introduces the key aspects of the Finnish telecom market in 2005, providing comprehensive data on the fixed network services sector, and the Internet, mobile, and broadcasting sectors. In addition to valuable statistics, the report overviews the key regulatory issues, noting the status of interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability and carrier preselection. The major operators are profiled, while the telecommunications infrastructure and fixed telephony services are also reviewed. |
| Finland has a strong and mature mobile market. Overall penetration rates in 2005 were above the EU average, and annualised growth continues at nearly 7%. Fierce competition and a tough regulatory environment have presented a difficult market for the mobile operators. The country also has the third lowest mobile call charges of all member states, behind only Denmark and Luxemburg. The merger of Telia and Sonera in 2002 reduced the number of competitors, since Telia in consequence relinquished its Finnish mobile business, and in 2005 Tele2 also withdrew. Finland undertook Europe’s first and cheapest 3G licence auctions in 1999, and 3G mobile networks are gradually coming online for commercial use. This Paul Budde report provides statistics and research on the Finnish mobile market in 2005 and early 2006, including the key regulatory issues, a snapshot of the consumer market, and the growth of mobile data services such as SMS. |
| Finland Phone Cards |