World Radiocommunication Conference: Finland emphasizes the importance of sufficient frequencies

Helsinki, 20 November 2023

The World Radiocommunication Conference WRC-23 will start in Dubai on 20 November 2023. The conference decides on the future use of the radio spectrum. The goal is to increase the use of radio frequencies and enable new technologies and services. Finland participates in decision-making at the conference and is globally influencing future communication services to ensure competitiveness and international accessibility.

The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) makes decisions on the future use of radio frequencies. The WRC updates the world ITU Radio Regulations, which as an international agreement globally regulates the use of radio frequencies. The goal is to enable the introduction of new technologies and services for wireless systems on land, sea, and in air and space.

It is important for Finland to guarantee sufficient frequencies for mobile communication networks

The amount of data transferred in mobile communications networks has grown explosively in the last decades. In Finland, we are the world’s most active users of wireless data transmission. 5G networks are being diligently built in Finland, which already cover almost 90% of Finnish households. We are also at the forefront of development in terms of 6G technology.

Future frequency needs are evaluated in the WRC process. In Finland, more frequencies are needed for mobile communications networks, especially when 6G networks start operating in the early 2030s.

“Finland considers it important that ambitious decisions on the use of future frequencies are made at the conference, which will enable the competitiveness of wireless communication especially when building the digital services of the future in the next decade,” says Sabina Lindström, Director Director-General of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

“Finland’s positions on frequency issues in mobile communications help to create and develop communications networks. We want to ensure that we are the leading country in mobile technology in the future as well,” says Director-General of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Kirsi Karlamaa.

The agenda covers matters important to Finland

This year, the agenda of the conference includes, among other things, the following:

• assigning additional frequencies to mobile communications, especially in the 6 GHz frequency range
• future use of the UHF range
• use of the VHF frequency range in aviation also via satellites
• use of the frequency range 12.75–13.25 GHz for data transmission from satellites to, for example, ships and airplanes
• modernizing the global maritime emergency and safety system
• issues related to space weather sensors at this and the next conference
• preparation of the WRC27 agenda, including 6G frequency issues

Finland’s interests are pursued in cooperation

The Finnish delegation at the conference is led by Deputy Director-General Sabina Lindström from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, in addition to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, the expert delegation includes representatives from Nokia, Telia, Iceye, Digita, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, The Finnish Amateur Radio League SRAL and the Finnish Defence Forces.

The World Radiocommunication Conference is held every 3 to 4 years. This year the conference will take place in the United Arab Emirates in Dubai from 20 November to 15 December 2023. Almost 4,000 members of different delegations from ITU’s 196 member countries are expected to participate in the event. In addition, almost 300 representatives of international organisations, device manufacturers, network operators and industrial operators will be monitoring the WRC resolutions. The WRC is organised by the International Telecommunication Union ITU.