Concerns rise over infrastructure safety amid fiber-optic network construction in Finland

The rapid construction of fiber-optic networks in Finland is raising concerns about infrastructure safety. Excavations throughout the country are damaging essential underground systems such as district heating, electricity networks, and communication cables. Industry representatives claim some companies involved in fiber-optic installation disregard laws, regulations, and guidelines.

In Kuopio, dozens of incidents have occurred over the summer and autumn, where tunneling work has damaged district heating pipes and electrical cables. Kuopion Sähköverko’s CEO, Kari Väänänen, emphasizes the implications for infrastructure and public safety, stating, “The matter involves service security and overall safety.”

Errors during excavation can significantly impact thousands of lives, as evidenced by an incident in mid-September that left over 2,000 customers without power due to drilling damage. In Kemi, street lights were out in several neighborhoods because of similar issues.

The frequency of cable damages has notably increased, with major telecom operators reporting a significant rise in damage and fault notifications linked to fiber-optic construction. Eli’s Niklas Granholm noted, “The number of incidents has increased along with the pace of fieldwork, amounting to hundreds annually.”

While companies are urged to coordinate on excavation sites, some neglect to request cable location diagrams before digging. Fiber-optic firms, under pressure for swift deployment, often skip this crucial step, leading to increased damage to newly installed cables.

Many municipalities have called for legislative restrictions on fiber-optic construction, but Traficom officials assert that new laws alone won’t solve the problem without proper enforcement and resources to ensure compliance.