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2001 in brief
New name corresponds better with new duties
2001 was a very significant year to FICORA. In June, the President of Finland ratified the Act on Communications Administration, which enabled the change of the name from the Telecommunications Administration Centre to the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA). The new name was adopted on September 1, 2001.
The new name corresponds better to the expanded field of activity. It is not tied to any individual technology. The convergence of communications contributes to the administration of communications networks and services. FICORA plays a key role as a general administrative authority for issues concerning electronic communications and promotion of information society services.
FICORA's new duties include information security and economic regulation.
In connection with the change of corporate name, the marketing of TV fees was separated from the remainder of FICORA's external communications. The TV fee administration has been given a new and separate identity.
Legislation amended because of converging communications technologies
Legislation concerning the duties of FICORA was amended extensively in 2001. Reason to this was the convergence of the communications technologies and markets, extensive technical development of electronic communication and strives to enhance competition in the field. The amendments broadened FICORA's sphere of operations and brought many new duties.
The aim of the amendments was to support the development of information society by stimulating the competition in local telecommunications, by advancing the provision of broadband services and by ensuring the availability of postal services all over the country.
The key role of information security
FICORA's sphere of operations broadened significantly in 2001 as regards supervision of information networks and related communications security.
At the beginning of July, a new information security unit was established. The unit is responsible for duties concerning communications security (COMSEC) and detection and response of computer security incidents (CERT). A group called CERT-FI was also set up at the beginning of 2002 with the aim to prevent and detect information security incidents and inform about the incidents. In addition, the Council of State set up an advisory board for information security issues to promote the cooperation between the public administration and business and industry in security issues. Chairperson of the advisory board is Rauni Hagman, Director-General of FICORA.
Economic regulation becoming more important
In 2001, FICORA investigated the pricing of operators with significant market power. The investigations were focused on operators' interconnection fees and local loop prices, number portability prices and fees collected for opening of subscriber number series and operator prefixes.
FICORA demanded considerable reductions on Sonera Oyj's mobile network interconnection charges collected from other operators. FICORA also issued a decision on Elisa Networks Oy's local loop prices and fixed network interconnection charges.
National and international cooperation is vital
The electronic communications crossing the market borders and the convergence of communications networks and services require extensive cooperation between the authorities, corporations and other stakeholders in the sector in different countries.
FICORA participated actively in the work of international organisations. One of the most important stakeholders was the Independent Regulators' Group (IRG), composed of the communications regulators of the EU and EFTA countries and Switzerland. FICORA was actively involved in the work of the IRG and its working groups and in the development of the IRG structure.
Other major cooperation partners are the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). FICORA has, for its part, contributed to the work and decision-making of these organisations.
FICORA's advisory boards and working groups constitute a significant expert resource to the operations of the Authority. In 2001, the telecommunications advisory board dealt with technical and economic regulation of telecommunications and information security. Radio administration advisory board dealt with the economic value of radio frequencies and new legislation on radiocommunications. The telecommunications standardisation advisory board dealt with public enquiries and votes for draft standards, and preparations for ETSI and ITU general assemblies. The television fee advisory board dealt with projects of legislation and digital television.
Efficient frequency usage
The frequencies assigned for the third-generation mobile network (UMTS) have been previously used by radio links in Finland. The frequencies were transferred from radio links to UMTS in 2001.
In early 2001, a third national GSM network began operations as the last NMT 900 frequencies had been transferred to GMS networks in 2000 and the NMT 900 networks were closed down.
FICORA has assigned frequencies for a digital television network. Regular digital video broadcasting began in August 2001.
New communications technologies experimented
Power line communication (PLC) was studied during the year. PLC technology uses electricity networks for transmission of information. A central problem in the adoption of the PLC is the risk of interference to radio service (maritime, military and aeronautical radio service, broadcasting and amateur service). FICORA measured disturbance levels in the PLC test network in a residential area with block of flats in the city of Vantaa. It is evident that the PLC technology can only be adopted once the interference and information security problems have been solved and when the technology complies with official requirements.
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