FINLAND: HIGH TECH VISIT BY AMBASSADOR GROSS

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000266 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS FOR EEB/CIP/BA WHITNEY WITTEMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS EIND EINT ETRD BEXP FI SUBJECT: FINLAND: HIGH TECH VISIT BY AMBASSADOR GROSS ¶1. (U) Summary: On a May 22-25 visit to Helsinki, Ambassador David Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy met with key government leaders including Finnish Minister of Communications Suvi Linden, and Ambassador Lanispuro, ICT and Information Society Policy Coordinator at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Gross received a briefing on Finland's conversion to digital television last fall and met with all the key individuals involved. Ambassador Gross also met with business leaders from F-Secure, the leading Finnish computer security company, and MTV3, Finland's largest commercial broadcast company. On Saturday Ambassador Gross had extensive discussions on the future of mobile communications and the Internet with officials from Nokia, the world's leading mobile phone manufacturer. Richard Beaird, Senior Deputy United States Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy and Whit Witteman from EEB/CIP accompanied Ambassador Gross. End summary. Ambassador Gross in Helsinki: Day One ===================================== ¶2. (U) On May 23, Ambassador Gross, Richard Beaird, and Whit Witteman had a full set of meetings in Helsinki. After meeting with the new U.S. Ambassador to Finland, Barbara Barrett, they then met with Finnish Minister of Communications Suvi Linden and her senior team to discuss Finnish ICT policy and the GOF's role in supporting ICT innovation. The meeting also touched on Finland's transition to digital television, Internet governance and Finland's positive view of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and the upcoming OECD meeting in Seoul which both Ambassador Gross and Minister Linden will attend. The delegation then received an in-depth briefing on Finland's conversion to digital television last fall from Tauno Aijala, a senior official from the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Finland is the first country to completely switch to digital television and Aijala was eager to share "best practices" and "lessons learned" from Finland's conversion to digital television. (Note: The U.S. will make the digital transition in February 2009. End note.) ¶3. (U) Ambassador Gross then met with Ambassador Lanispuro, ICT and Information Society Policy Coordinator at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, to discuss Internet Governance issues, including ICANN issues. A member of the ICANN President's Strategy Committee, Lansipuro provided an insider's view on issues ICANN is facing as it expands its role. Ambassador Gross then was interviewed by the leading Finnish business publication, Taloussanomat. The interview resulted in a very positive article that focused on how the U.S. is learning from Finland's example in converting to digital television, as well as the future of mobile communications and the Internet. Ambassador Gross also met with Kimmo Alkio, CEO of F- Secure, Finland's leading computer security company to discuss cyber security and the containment of digital threats. Lastly, they met with the senior team from MTV3, Finland largest commercial broadcast company, to hear how they have profited and expanded their business because of the digital conversion. Ambassador Gross in Helsinki: Day Two at Nokia ============================================= = ¶4. (SBU) On May 24 the entire delegation had an all-day visit with senior executives from Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer and the largest company in Finland. During the meetings there was substantial in-depth discussions about the USG's ICT policies, Nokia's plans for the future, including mobile Internet access, especially in the developing world, and recent policy developments in Europe, U.S., Africa, Asia, and India. These Nokia executives, including some from Nokia's Government Affairs operations in Washington and Brussels, who expressed interest in working with the USG to provide mobile phones to Cubans as contemplated by President Bush's recent announcement. BARRETT