Telia Finland

News Summary:

Telia Finland announced it will strengthen security for mobile authentication certificate (mobiilivarmenne) activation by implementing two-stage authentication starting September 2026. This new requirement mandates a second form of identification, such as a passport or ID card, alongside bank credentials, with the company's head of fraud prevention, Anttti Turunen, stating that criminal misuse is often linked to eSIM subscriptions and identification. Previously, on August 27, Telia and Patria, along with their partners, successfully demonstrated the remote operation of a Patria AMV armoured vehicle from Tokyo, controlling it at the Parola military testing area in Finland, a distance of 7,800 km. Earlier in August, Telia Finland's Telia Towers initiated the construction of a satellite earth station in Pyhajarvi, in collaboration with an unnamed US space company, designed to connect to satellites in Earth orbit and transmit their data to terrestrial networks. On August 17, Telia Finland reported a 30 percent increase in watch phone sales during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, observing a shift where watch phones are becoming the initial mobile device for many first-year pupils, and parents are increasingly critical of smartphone use. This aligns with a broader industry trend where European telecom operators, including Telia, have pursued operational efficiencies to drive margin growth, with Telia noting operational cost savings as a contributor to EBITDA or EBITDA-AL growth for the period ending June 30, 2026.