New legislative project to prepare a response system for location study requests

On 9 April, the Ministry of Transport and Communications launched a legislative project to prepare amendments to the act on facilitating the introduction of very high capacity networks. The legislative amendments will enable the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom to implement a system for responding to and monitoring location study requests.

Legislative drafting will begin based on a hybrid model, which would allow network operators to make independent decisions on the disclosure of network data. The hybrid model would allow the authority to monitor the quality of network data. It would also facilitate the production of a composite map of underground infrastructure within the authority’s service. The authority would also have insights into the origin and nature of location study requests.

In the hybrid model, some operators could provide their network data to the service in advance and for them the system would operate as a centralised solution where security aspects have been taken into account. The supervisory authority would process location study requests and responses and oversee the system. Only a location survey request would be sent through the service to those network operators who retain control over their own data, and they would respond to the requests directly. In this case, the system would only store information about network areas.

It is estimated that regulation will be necessary concerning the obligation to disclose data, the definition of the quality level required of network data, the processing of network data disclosed from the service and their publicity, data security requirements, fees charged for location study requests, and the competence of the authority maintaining the system. 

The response system for location survey requests will improve the management of location data on network infrastructure and reduce damage related to excavation. The project also aims to improve the overall security level of services managing location data which varies at the moment. Location study responses do not include information about critical infrastructure. 

In October 2024, Traficom suspended the introduction of the location data service. The location data service, developed by Traficom, was a proposed online platform where network operators would provide the location data of the active components of their communication networks in a centralised manner. Given the current security environment, it is essential to place particular emphasis on the data security of the implemented system and ensure the protection of geospatial information.

The new act on facilitating the introduction of very high capacity networks is currently being prepared in another legislative project implementing the EU’s Gigabit Infrastructure Act.

What’s next?

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will begin the law drafting in cooperation with stakeholders. The drafting process will include a public consultation, which will be held in autumn 2025. The government proposal is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament in spring 2026 and the amendment is set to enter into force in autumn 2026.

More information on the project is available on the Government’s website.

Inquiries:

Lauri Mustonen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 252, lauri.mustonen@gov.fi