Radiokaista

Radiokaista is a Finnish term that refers to a contiguous range of radio frequencies allocated for a specific radio service or group of services. It is part of the broader radio spectrum and is defined for technical and regulatory purposes by international and national authorities. Each radiokaista has defined boundaries, such as center frequency, bandwidth, permissible emission types, power limits, and licensing conditions, and may be subdivided into channels or sub-bands.

Radiotaajuudet are allocated to broadcasting, mobile and fixed wireless services, satellite communications, and other uses. The specifics depend on national regulation, but common examples include the FM broadcasting band used for local radio and various cellular and wireless LAN bands for mobile and Wi‑Fi communications. Assignment and use of radiokaistat are managed by national regulators in coordination with international bodies to avoid interference and to ensure efficient spectrum use.

Spectral management involves licensing, monitoring, and periodic reallocation as demand evolves, with processes such as auctions, technology-neutral licensing, and shared spectrum approaches. As technology advances (for example, 5G and beyond), radiokaistat are often repurposed or expanded to accommodate higher data rates and new services while protecting existing users.

In Finnish discourse, radiokaista thus denotes both a technical notion of a defined frequency block and the practical framework for its use in telecommunications, broadcasting, and related services.