Universal service
Universal services regarding telephone subscriptions
Universal service means services considered as staple commodities, and which every consumer and company must have access to. The content of universal services with regard to telephone services is laid down in the Communications Market Act.
According to the Act, every consumer or business customer has the right to obtain a telephone subscription to its permanent place of residence or business. Summer houses fall outside the scope of the regulation.
The subscription must be fixed or wireless and users must be able to
- make and receive local, long-distance and international calls;
- make and receive emergency calls; and
- use ordinary telephone services.
When a GSM desktop phone is involved, the mobile subscription must reach the same coverage as a fixed telephone at least in one place inside a building. If the universal service connection is used for the mobile phone, the subscription must have coverage inside the building.
Universal service operators with an obligation to provide telephone subscriptions
FICORA has designated four telecom operators as having an obligation to provide telephone services subject to universal service:
- Mariehamns Telefon Ab
- TeliaSonera Finland Oyj
- Ålands Mobiltelefon Ab
- Ålands Telefonandelslag
Further information on FICORA'S Universal service decisions
Right to reasonably-priced telephone subscription
In its universal service decisions, FICORA has determined the universal service areas of the designated telecom operators. In its area, a universal service provider must provide a functioning telephone subscription to the public communications network for the consumers and business customers at their permanent place of residence or business. The provided subscription can be implemented either in the fixed or wireless communications network.
The price of a telephone connection provided by a universal service provider must be reasonable. However, the prices of subscriptions may vary in different parts of the country and the costs incurred from the production of the service can be taken into consideration in the pricing.
A universal service provider may only refuse to make a subscription agreement with a customer if the requirements laid down in legislation are fulfilled.
How do I deal with problems?
Use the search engine to check whether a universal service operator has been designated in your region for the provision of telephone services.
Contact your service provider first if your inquiry concerns the acquisition, quality or price of telephone subscriptions.
FICORA monitors the availability of universal services and the implementation of obligations imposed on universal service operators.
You may contact FICORA, if
- you cannot come to an understanding with the telecom operator; or
- you cannot have access to a subscription in an area with any designated telecom operators.
