European positioning and high-precision timing services to enhance Finland’s security

The national introduction of the Public Regulated Service, PRS, of the European Galileo satellite system will continue. The service provides EU Member States with secure location and time data that is resistant to interference.

The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy decided in autumn 2020, based on the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, that Finland start using the PRS of the EU Galileo satellite navigation system. The EU made some specifications to the Galileo service provision in spring 2024. The national introduction of PRS will now continue, taking into account these EU specifications.

The purpose of the Galileo PRS is, from 2026 onwards, to provide the authorities and critical infrastructure operators within EU Member States with verified and interference-free position and timing information that is more resistant to jamming and manipulation.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has assigned the national implementation of the PRS to the Finnish Transport and Communication Agency Traficom. Traficom has already been granted the appropriation required for the implementation of the service. The required legislation is also in force.

PRS improves Finland’s overall security and security of supply

Due to Finland’s geographical position, the PRS should be introduced as soon as it is operational in the EU. The data produced by the PRS will be significantly more secure than open satellite-based time and location services.

The PRS enhances comprehensive security and is a key component in ensuring Finland’s cyber security. In addition, the introduction of the service has a positive impact on Finland’s security of supply through reducing Finnish operators’ dependency on time and location systems from outside Europe.

The planned users of the PRS in Finland are the authorities within the administrative branches of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Defence Forces, Finnish Customs as well as operators involved in society’s critical infrastructure such as telecommunications and operators in the energy, finance, and logistics sectors.

Next steps

Traficom will continue the national introduction of the PRS service. The aim is to gradually introduce the PRS in Finland starting from summer 2025.

Inquiries:

Ministry of Transport and Communications:
Vesa Häyrinen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, vesa.hayrinen(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 29 534 2368

Suvi Lahtikankare, Senior Specialist, suvi.lahtikankare(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 92 534 2105

Traficom:
Matti Kesäläinen, public regulated services in Finland, matti.kesalainen(at)traficom.fi, tel. +358 29 539 0647