kaapelitelevisio

Kaapelitelevisio, literally meaning cable television in Finnish, refers to the distribution of television, radio and data services to households via a local coaxial cable network operated by a service provider. It is a shared medium in which many channels are transmitted through a single network and delivered to individual subscribers through drop spokes and customer premises equipment.

A typical kaapelitelevisio system comprises a central headend that receives content from broadcasters or content providers, processes and encodes it, and transmits it over a distribution network. The network uses coaxial cables or hybrid fiber-coaxial cables to carry multiple channels on different frequencies. In modern systems, digital DVB-C modulation enables efficient transport of many channels, and two-way communication supports interactive services and internet access.

History and development

Cable television emerged in the mid-20th century as an alternative to over-the-air broadcasting, expanding access to a wider range of channels. In Finland, kaapelitelevisio grew through municipal and private operators during the latter half of the 20th century and underwent substantial digitalization in the 1990s and 2000s, with migration toward digital delivery and convergence with broadband networks.

Services and current use

Today, kaapelitelevisio commonly offers linear television channels, pay‑TV packages, video-on-demand and other digital services, often alongside broadband internet over the same network in hybrid fiber-coax configurations. Viewers access content via set-top boxes or DVB-C capable televisions, with increasing support for smart-TV apps and streaming on demand.

Regulation

In Finland, regulatory oversight is provided by Traficom and general telecommunications law, governing licensing, spectrum use, consumer rights and industry standards for cable operators.