18.02.2005

Major results were achieved in bilateral discussions between Finland and Russia concerning coordination of the use of frequencies in border areas

Topics of discussions: GSM900, emergency services in the band 380 – 400 MHz, digital television, the future use of the former NMT-450 MHz band etc

Purpose and results of the meeting

In order to avoid harmful interference in the border areas the use of frequencies and the related technical parameters have to be agreed upon. There were five major issues on the agenda of this meeting. All items included presentations and negotiations with the aim to conclude bilateral frequency coordination agreements applicable in the border areas. Two coordination agreements were signed on the use of GSM 900 bands and the emergency service band 380 – 400 MHz. The meeting was held in Helsinki from 24 to 26 November, 2004.

Use of band 453.000 - 457.475 MHz / 463.000 - 467.475 MHz

The use and the future usage plans of the former NMT450 band in both countries was discussed in detail. As a conclusion Russia and Finland decided to continue the consideration of the agreement after the final decision is made on the future use of this band in Finland.

Consideration of the possible use of radio equipment of emergency services networks operation in the 380-400 MHz band across border areas

Finland informed Russia about the emergency service network VIRVE in Finland and described the emergency situations in which the Finnish VIRVE users would need to use their radio equipment in the Russian territory. Representatives from the Finnish Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transport and Communications and the VIRVE operator participated in the meeting during this agenda item.

Revision of the coordination agreement on 380-385 /390-395 MHz

Finland had proposed to amend the co-ordination Agreement from 1996 by including the European harmonised channels for Direct Mode Operation (DMO) and Air-Ground-Air Communications (AGA). The DMO and AGA channels were included in the Agreement and the revised Agreement was signed on 26 November 2004.

Revision of the coordination agreement in the 900 MHz GSM band

The GSM spectrum has been divided equally between Finland and Russia into preferential and non-preferential channels. Each operator has preferential and non-preferential channels. The preferential channels are used to cover the border areas with a certain field strength limit at the border line. In order to have a better GSM coverage in the border areas Finland had proposed to increase field strength values included in the old coordination agreement between Russia and Finland from 1996 for the frequency bands 890-915 MHz/935-960 MHz. As a result of the negotiation at the coordination meeting it was agreed the these higher filed strength values can be used along almost all the border line between Finland and Russia.

Dicussions concerning coordination of TV and VHF/FM stations

Russia proposed that the “Basic principles, calculation methods and EMC evaluation criteria” used in bilateral coordination of broadcasting assignments should be based on the same principles that are used in network planning. Finland in turn proposed that the matter could be discussed in the frames of the work for preparation for the second RRC-06 session. Russia agreed with this proposal. It was also agreed that Finland and Russia will start coordination discussions to prepare the RRC-06 conference in early 2005 after Russia has finished it’s internal discussions on digitalisation.

Other issues

Several topics were also listed as items for the next coordination meeting between Finland and Russia, to be held either spring 2005 or autumn 2005.

The Russian delegation consisted of 11 delegates. The Head of the Delegation was Mr V.A. Naslednikov and the Deputy Head of the Delegation Mr Leonid Mikhalevskiy from the Telecommunications Administration of the Russian Federation. There were nine more members in the delegation, Mr Pavel Mamchenkov, Mr Valentin Poliakov, Mr Nikolay Yakushin, Ms Natalia Alania, Ms Natalia Dronova, Mr Sergey Pastukh, Mr Boris Klyzhenko, Mr Dmitry Soloviev, and Mr Alexander Maksimov.

The Finnish delegation was represented by 17 delegates. Mrs Margit Huhtala (Head of the Delegation), Mr Pasi Toivonen, Mr Kari Kangas, Mr Tapio Penkkala, Ms Kirsi Karlamaa, Mr Harri Jores, Mr Teemu Ovaska, Mr Jan Engelberg, Mr Tom Wikström, Mr Yrjö Hämäläinen, Mrs Anitta Laine (all from Ficora), Mr Timo Hietalahti (Sonera Mobile Networks), Mr Pertti Vepsäläinen (Elisa), Mr Ilmo Toivonen (Omnitele), Mr Arto Lönnroth (Ministry of Transport and Communications Finland), Mr Pete Lyly (VIRVE emergency service network operator), and Mr Timo Viitanen (Ministry of Interior).