Efficient deployment of satellite navigation systems in Finland : Action plan 2017–2020

Along with digitalisation, satellite navigation has become an important part of our everyday life. For example, the operation of power and communication networks and transport services requires satellite positioning and accurate timing. The satellite navigation sector is indeed growing and, in 2017, the European Commission estimated the value of the satellite navigation sector at over EUR 70 billion. With the growth of automated transport and the development of 5G and IoT, the market value is estimated to rise to about EUR 195 billion by 2025. Europe is undergoing an important phase in the development of satellite navigation as the Initial Services of Galileo, the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), have recently been introduced and the system is expected to be in full operation in 2020. Over the past few decades, Finnish experts and Finnish expertise have been part of several space and satellite projects. In addition, the first satellites of our own have been developed over the past few years and Finland is indeed becoming a new operator in the satellite markets. This Action plan describes the current state of satellite navigation systems and how they are deployed in the different sectors of our society, especially in automated transport. At the same time, it describes the current model of Finnish space administration and the pressure to reform it. At the end of the Action plan, 17 concrete measures are proposed to promote the deployment of satellite navigation especially at a national level. The Action plan is part of one of the key projects in Juha Sipilä’s Government Programme: A growth environment will be created for digital business operations. The work has been carried out by listening to a wide range of actors in the sector. The Action plan aims to ensure that satellite navigation systems are deployed in all sectors of society in all of Finland. Its key goals in terms of the future are the following: making Finland one of the leading countries in the deployment of satellite systems and enhancing the preconditions for the current high quality of space research in Finland, enhancing the deployment of satellite data in business activities and service provision, ensuring the quality of positioning and the deployment of satellite navigation systems in all Arctic regions, promoting the deployment of small satellites, and determining the need and possibilities to establish a space administration in Finland