Setting up a radio station and radio broadcasting licences

Radio broadcasting lasting more than three months requires a programming licence. Traficom invites applications for licences either

• when a licence period ends
• when frequencies become available, or
• when new frequencies can be made available.

Valid programming licences (External link)

Under the Act on the Exercise of Freedom of Expression in Mass Media (460/2003), a programme must be retained for 21 days after broadcasting.

Fees related to programming licences

An application fee of EUR 1,500 is charged for licence applications.

Radio broadcasters with a programming licence pay an annual radio and television broadcasting supervision fee. The supervision fee for national or similar operations is EUR 6,000 and for regional or local operations EUR 600 for each radio programme set referred to in the licence.

Radio broadcasting lasting less than three months does not require a licence

Analogue radio broadcasting that lasts no more than three months can be carried out without a programming licence. Small-scale radio broadcasting within a limited area does not require a programming licence, either. A transmitter must always have a radio licence.

Traficom does not grant temporary radio licences for sound broadcast transmitters for consecutive periods. There must be a gap of two months between two consecutive licence periods.

Applicants must indicate the premises for retaining programme records in their application for temporary radio broadcasting.

Radio transmitters require a radio licence

Radio transmitters must have a radio licence that specifies, for example,

• the assigned frequency
• the maximum radiated power (ERP) (antenna power, not transmitter power)
• the maximum antenna height, and
• the location of the antenna mast.

The aim is to grant the radio licence with parameters specified in the application as long as operating the transmitter using these parameters does not cause unreasonable interference to other radio communication. International agreements specify in detail the conditions for using a radio transmitter without a separate agreement with neighbouring countries.

If a transmitter is used for other than temporary or small-scale broadcasting, a radio licence may only be granted if there is valid broadcasting licence.

An annual frequency fee (External link) will be charged for the radio licence.

Extremely low-power radio transmitters with the maximum radiated power of 50 nW do not require a licence.

Links to licence applications are available in Services (External link)

Digital radio broadcasting

There are no networks for digital audio broadcasting in Finland, but digital radio broadcasting can be carried out in a television network. A programme licence is required for digital radio broadcasting, too. The TV network operator is responsible for operating the transmitter and for the radio licence.

Licence holders carrying out radio operations only in a TV network pay a supervision fee of EUR 6,000 for each radio programme set referred to in the licence.