Response to interpellations 2024/25:29 and 30 on the technological transition in agriculture and forestry and the coverage of rural areas
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns technological transition and coverage in rural areas. KD considers that the market should provide electronic communication 1 and that frequency bands should be technology-neutral 2. KD argues that municipalities are responsible for their own financing 1 3 and that 5G provides opportunities for agriculture and forestry 2. KD argues that the government does not automatically provide money for industry organizations' requests 4 and that S's proposal would worsen the business climate 4. S considers that the government should finance sustainable solutions 5 and ensure coverage when the market fails 6. S argues that municipalities do not have time to transition 2G technology 6 and that the government must deliver more security.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Isak From has asked me about the government and I intend to act to ensure that the coverage in rural areas becomes at least as good as it is today with the new 5G technology when the phase-out of the 2G and 3G networks is completed, and if I intend to act so that the rural municipalities are given time to transition.
have also asked Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren if he intends to take any initiatives so that agriculture and forestry are given the conditions and reasonable time to transition to 5G.
The work within the government is distributed in such a way that it is I who am to answer both interpellations, and I am answering them simultaneously.
Electronic communications shall primarily be provided through a well-functioning market, but the state shall have a responsibility in areas where public interests cannot be met solely by the market. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority issues permits for the use of radio frequencies, and the permit conditions are technology-neutral. The starting point is a market-driven expansion of the networks, but in certain frequency bands, the authority has decided on coverage requirements in order to improve mobile coverage throughout Sweden.
It is the mobile operators who decide which services shall be provided in the networks and which technology shall be used. Consequently, they also have the responsibility towards the users to implement changes in a responsible manner, to inform about upcoming changes in the range of services, and to offer users good support to manage the consequences that the changes may entail.
The rollout of modern 5G technology opens up possibilities for entirely new areas of application, such as industrial applications, smart cities and communities, and extensive automation within both the public and private sectors. This applies in particular to agriculture and forestry, where 5G and other digital technology can be used to improve decision-making bases, optimize operations, and increase productivity. The new technology provides higher capacity, is more energy-efficient, and can support a growing number of devices and data traffic.
5G technology can use both high and low frequency bands. Higher frequencies enable higher speeds but have shorter range and poorer ability to penetrate obstacles such as buildings and trees. The lower frequencies do not provide the same high speeds but can cover large geographical areas. Long-term coverage in rural areas will depend on the operators' investments in infrastructure and on which frequency bands are used.
When older technology is phased out in favor of more modern equipment, equipment and services may need to be replaced or upgraded. In order for users to be able to prepare in good time, the mobile operators have since 2020 communicated that the technology shift will be carried out. Municipalities and regions choose for themselves which technical services they judge to be suitable. Municipalities as well as regions have, through municipal self-government, a great responsibility to ensure in various ways that they can fulfill their tasks. The municipal right of taxation means that municipalities and regions have an extensive responsibility for the financing of their operations. The Government follows the municipal sector's situation closely.
The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority monitors, on behalf of the government, the ongoing technological shift from 2G and 3G networks to modern 5G technology. The authority also monitors, on behalf of the government, which information efforts are carried out in connection with the decommissioning and what replacement solutions are offered in cases where electronic communication services have been dependent on the 2G or 3G network. If necessary, the authority shall report and propose measures to the government.
In June this year, the Post and Telecom Authority and the Consumer Agency reported in a joint letter their collective view of the technology shift. The authorities have identified the measures needed to ensure that the technology shift occurs in a responsible manner. In addition to the fact that mobile operators must provide users with clear and sufficient information about the decommissioning in good time, it is also highlighted, among other things, that the decommissioning shall occur in a controlled manner without deteriorating the coverage. Furthermore, equipment suppliers must be clear about which networks are supported and the consequences for the users.
All of Sweden must function, and all households and companies should have good opportunities to use digital services and public services. It is important that Sweden continues to be a nation at the forefront of technology. The technological shift is significant for society as a whole, and therefore the government follows the development closely.
Isak From (S)
Mr. Speaker! I thank Minister Erik Slottner for the clarity. This is however regrettable, as these two different interpellations would have deserved two different debates. I will therefore, in my opening remarks, primarily stick to the conditions for agriculture and forestry.
I have asked the Minister for Rural Affairs if he intends to take any initiatives so that agriculture and forestry are given the conditions and reasonable time to transition.
Minister Slottner's answer is clear: It is the market's responsibility. The Federation of Swedish Farmers, LRF, does not quite share this view. One of LRF's currently most prioritized issues is the decommissioning of the 2G and 3G networks, especially the 2G network, because very many of the technical solutions in agriculture and forestry are based on the 2G network's functions. I share Erik Slottner's view that 5G is the best solution, but now we have a situation where those responsible say that they will not have time to transition. Large sums of money have been invested in 2G technology. Telia has therefore signaled that they will postpone it until 2027. But other operators say that they will shut down now. LRF says that even 2027 is too early and argues that the government needs to step in and finance sustainable solutions. That is why I wanted to have this debate with the Minister for Rural Affairs, because this responsibility lies with him.
I think we should give agriculture and forestry reasonable time to transition. It is the responsibility of agriculture and forestry to invest in their own technology, but now we have a situation where agriculture and forestry and LRF see that more time is needed to transition, and in other matters, the government has influenced and pushed forward the introduction of new technology.
When the Post and Telecom Authority visited Västerbotten and met R10, the ten inland municipalities, of which eight are in Västerbotten and two in Norrbotten, the clear message was that it is the market's responsibility as long as the Riksdag and the government do not say otherwise. The Riksdag and the government have a responsibility to step in and make decisions when they see that something is heading in the wrong direction, and in this case, it is reasonable to give the transition a little more time.
Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I noted that Isak From used the expressions "I think" and "I believe" and became curious whether the member stands here as just member From or speaks for the Social Democrats. I would, in fact, like to assert that it would be a very big step if the Social Democrats have changed position in the issue and that the allocation of different frequency bands is no longer to be technology-neutral. Shall politics step in and dictate which technology should be in the frequency bands? We have not done that until now. We have been politically agreed in this chamber that it is a matter for the market to decide which technology one wants to fill the frequency bands with.
We have tasked the authority - in this case the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority - with auctioning off frequency bands. Then the telecommunications operators can submit bids in a free, competitive market. PTS has also, in order to create as good coverage as possible, set certain coverage requirements on the operators in order for them to be allowed to take part in the frequency bands. We have been careful that the allocation shall be technology-neutral and that the operators decide whether they want to build out 2G, 3G, 4G or 5G.
We should be very grateful that Sweden was first in the world to roll out 4G technology. It has meant incredibly much for innovative development, various digital services, and that Sweden is as far ahead as we are and has a digitally mature population and advanced digital services.
We see the 5G rollout progressing faster and faster, which also creates incredibly good conditions. It is important that it continues. Therefore, it is good that in the places where there has been 2G and 3G technology, 5G can be used instead. It provides great opportunities for, among other things, forestry and agriculture.
The shutdown has not been kept secret in any way. We have been fully aware of it, and it has been communicated very clearly by the operators. They have communicated about this since 2020. We have commissioned PTS and the Consumer Agency to support information campaigns and supervision of various suppliers of products to ensure that they do not sell, for example, goods based on old technology that will soon no longer function.
It was the Social Democrats and the Green Party that sat in government in 2020. The Social Democrats sat until all the way until October 2022. I never heard the Social Democrats criticize the operators for decommissioning 2G and 3G technology too quickly. I think it is a bit absurd to come now and criticize the government for not politicizing an issue that we do not want to politicize.
Postponing the shutdown of Telia's network until 2027 is not a political decision; I want to be very careful to emphasize that. It is Telia that has made this decision. If the other operators find it desirable, they can, of course, do the same. It is not politics that decides this. Our allocations are technology-neutral, and that is how we want them to remain.
Isak From (S)
Mr. Speaker! Technology neutrality - certainly! We Social Democrats have been very clear that we welcome 5G technology. It has been - and is - crucial for modern society that it is rolled out, but it is also required that it actually is rolled out.
Mr. Speaker! I will now move on to speak about coverage in rural areas. Telia cannot guarantee that the coverage will be the same once the transition is completed. Neither Telia nor the Post and Telecom Authority can guarantee that one will be able to call and reach 112 everywhere outside one's home.
Right now, the very largest investments are being made in the larger urban areas and the big cities, which is fully understandable, because that is where most of the consumers are. It is also why the policy has opened up to support the more sparsely populated rural areas. Even that the policy has previously agreed on – or am I mistaken there, Erik Slottner?
The origin of this interpellation was the tragic death in Ammarnäs in Västerbotten in Sorsele municipality this summer, where it was not possible to reach the emergency number 112 for three days. This was because all mobile operators used one and the same fiber cable. It had fallen down and been run over. Here, politics has a responsibility.
I have read Erik Slottner's comments about that the municipalities must ensure coverage. It also appears here that the municipalities shall step in and ensure coverage when the market has failed. It is very clear in the answer from Erik Slottner that the municipalities shall step in.
Mr. Speaker! Let me be very clear that I wrote the interpellation from a rural perspective, but now there are testimonies coming from more and more municipalities - even large ones - that have invested in safety alarms, management of water and sewage facilities, traffic lights, street lighting and so on. All such technology that has been built on 2G will not have time to be converted. There, Mr. Speaker, it is therefore not just a question of money. Erik Slottner refers to the fact that the municipalities have the right to levy taxes and are obliged to take care of this themselves, but SKR argues that the municipalities will not have time to convert.
The transition is completely necessary, but if such a large sector in Sweden tells the government that they need more time – is it then not the responsible minister's duty to listen to the municipalities? This does not only apply to the small municipalities.
Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I am still curious as to whether these are Isak From's personal opinions or if the Social Democrats stand behind them, because it is a shift in policy on an area we previously agreed on. There is nothing wrong with that. One may need to develop policy. But it would be interesting to know this, because it affects whether we can expect motions in the future from the Social Democrats regarding more political control regarding frequency allocations and what the frequency bands should be filled with.
Isak also indicates that some form of financial support should be provided to farmers to manage the transition. I have not read those lines in the Social Democrats' shadow budget that was presented a few weeks ago, but it will be interesting to see if there is any such support there.
Regarding connectivity and how we are to connect the whole of Sweden, we still have a journey ahead of us. The broadband expansion continues. During this mandate period alone, the government is distributing barely 4 billion kronor in broadband support. The 5G rollout is rolling on. There have been new auctions. New frequency bands have been auctioned out. But we will need to continue working with this and, not least, ensure that the industry's needs for 5G are met. I also think that is an important issue.
The Government's assessment in these matters will come when we present the new digitalization strategy, where connectivity and coverage issues will be an important part. I hope to be able to provide even clearer information then.
As I said in my first post, one must not forget the coverage requirement. There, we take responsibility. Even in those parts of Sweden where there are not enough market forces to expand coverage, we set requirements on the operators that they shall expand connectivity in order to gain access to the frequency band. This is an important issue that is being worked on.
The municipalities have known that the technology will be decommissioned from 2020, perhaps even before then. I do not think one can come four years later and say that there is not enough time to transition.
I was active in municipal politics in Stockholm during the previous term and was then responsible for elderly care. We started early to replace the safety alarms so that they would meet the new technology. We had a long-term plan where we phased out and paid off year by year. We did this in a large municipality - Sweden's by far largest - with many care recipients. We realized that it would take many years, and we did the work in a very structured manner to manage to finish it before 2025.
I think it must be possible to set requirements on a municipality in Sweden to be able to manage such a planning horizon. If one cannot manage that, one probably has many other major problems in that municipality. I actually dare to say this.
The last thing I want to comment on concerns the redundancy and vulnerability in digital systems if infrastructure is knocked out and one, for example, cannot call 112. It is a very important issue, and that is why the government is now increasing the appropriations so much to civil defense, not least the protection of digital communications, where increased redundancy is an important issue to be able to manage crisis management even if a system is knocked out in the event of war or sabotage.
Isak From (S)
Mr. Speaker! Erik Slottner did not listen to what I said, so I have to repeat it again. I said that LRF, Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund, says that they want support for the transition. It is not either Isak From or the Socialdemokraterna, but LRF who now argues that one of their biggest issues is having enough time to transition.
Erik Slottner can be completely convinced that we Social Democrats will stand on the side of the ordinary person. That is what we have always done. When ordinary people feel insecure and reach out to politics, we must listen.
We Social Democrats were clear that the technological transition is important. We have been proactive in it, but when we see that it is stalling and that large organizations contact the government and say that they cannot keep up, we must listen. When the ordinary citizen says "I am worried. What happens if I get sick - will I not be able to reach 112 then?" we politicians must listen. In those cases, it is not enough to say that it is the market's responsibility.
PTS correctly refers to what Erik Slottner mentioned, namely the connectivity strategy – the new digital strategy. I believe it is long-awaited and that many have hopes for it. I believe the government must deliver a bit more security in the strategy, because there is a concern.
It is obvious that if we are to be leaders in the technological transition, we must expand across the entire country. Now it is stalling, Mr. Speaker.
Statsrådet Erik Slottner (KD)
Mr. Speaker! It was in the first contribution that Isak From said that increased support was needed. Then more was spoken about LRF in the second contribution. I just want to have it said.
Even though it is LRF that is requesting more money and increased support, it is not the case that the government will automatically provide a bag of money just because a trade organization desires support. The Social Democrats do not always say yes and amen just because Svenskt Näringsliv desires a tax cut, for example.
Of course we shall listen to the various inputs that come, but one cannot just stand and listen passively. One must also at some point dare to pose a counter-question to the one who has asked the question: But what have you done, then? You have known this since 2020. Why has municipality X not done anything since 2020 and is starting to act now? At some point, one must pose the question back, because it is a municipal responsibility to replace technology supported by 2G and 3G with technology that is now instead supported by 5G in the places where it is to be switched to 5G.
I am still interested in what the Social Democrats want to do in this matter. In my assessment, it would deteriorate the business climate quite a bit and create poor conditions and poor foresight for the telecommunications operators if we first give them allocations of frequency bands to build out 5G and then say that they must stop it for a number of years ahead to create peace and quiet in Sweden. It is clear that their trust in the state would be significantly eroded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.