Finland aims to raise the share of renewable energy to 50% of total electricity consumption during the 2020s. Fingrid estimates that solar power capacity will increase more than tenfold by 2030. The rapid expansion of renewables introduces new challenges to the technical stability of the power system.
Risks to critical infrastructure have also grown. Cybersecurity is now essential even for previously protected networks and devices. Energy infrastructure faces increasing data transmission needs and more complex communication requirements, making it harder to predict true lifecycle costs in advance.
The overall trend is rising complexity — staying up to date requires specialised ICT expertise.
What do critical-infrastructure telecom services require?
1. Reliability
Energy production and distribution form the backbone of a functioning society.
In disturbances, the priority is to restore production and distribution as quickly and widely as possible to safeguard essential operations. Effective response requires an accurate situational picture of what is happening in the field, across the network, at substations and power plants — while also protecting field personnel and preventing further damage.
For these reasons, professional-grade communication links must be used in electricity distribution and industrial-scale energy production. Planned telecom connections and systems must operate without interruption so that data transfer between solar or wind farms and control rooms remains stable. Without reliable connectivity, production is disrupted quickly — and the cost for the producer can be substantial.
2. Security
Address safety, risks and responsibilities already during project planning.
Telecom infrastructure in solar and wind farms is vulnerable. It can face vandalism, environmental disturbance, human error and cyber threats. Cybersecurity must therefore meet modern critical-infrastructure standards.
Investing in security ensures continuity of energy production and builds trust with customers and financiers. Require all vendors and on-site contractors to follow proper security practices. At minimum, avoid consumer-grade, unprotected connections, devices or subscriptions. By sourcing a full connection package from a provider specialised in critical-infrastructure ICT, cybersecurity responsibilities don’t fall solely on you.
The EU NIS2 Directive, becoming mandatory in October 2024, will push more companies to adopt structured cybersecurity management and incident reporting. Compliance can typically be met — fully or largely — with an ISO/IEC 27001-certified information security management system. NIS2 is expected to drive widespread adoption of ISO/IEC 27001 as a requirement for service providers, as it is easier for buyers to require the certification than to audit NIS2 readiness case by case.
An ISO/IEC 27001 certification shows that a partner is committed to best-practice security, systematically manages risks and continuously improves its processes — a formal assurance that requirements are met.
3. Ease and simplicity
Don’t waste energy — even if you produce it.
Outsourcing telecom services allows you to focus on your core business while gaining access to specialised expertise and years of experience.
Energy-sector professionals are experts in production — which is a demanding field on its own. Purchasing telecom services as a complete package from a specialised partner ensures operational efficiency and lets your team focus on what matters.
Telecom solutions for energy parks involve many components, including:
- Communication services between power plants, substations, secondary substations and other critical OT devices
- ICT and OT design and project management
- Preconfigured, tested and commissioned equipment
- High-grade telecom connections, integrations and installation
- Cybersecurity, monitoring and management services
- Maintenance, support and lifecycle services
Avoid fragmented supplier contracts and unclear responsibilities. When services are delivered as coherent packages, project management is easier, and lifecycle maintenance and fault handling are clear and straightforward.
Another part of easiness is deployment speed. Traditional fibre-based solutions often take months or even over a year to complete. Emtele primarily uses advanced mobile network technology, which we have successfully deployed in nearly all solar farms, wind farms and energy storage systems in our portfolio. If needed, connection capacity can be aggregated or latency minimised — delivering high-performance connectivity within just weeks.
4. Cost efficiency and transparent pricing
Complex needs can lead to large investments and overlapping services unless telecom is designed as a whole from the start. Instead of individual price tags, focus on lifecycle cost and overall value.
In particular, prioritise reliability and the provider’s ability to keep connections operational during faults and network changes — as the largest costs arise when production is interrupted.
Choices directly influence total cost. Digging fibre to a remote site can cost tens of thousands of euros. By using our specialised mobile-based technology, the total cost is often significantly lower — while reliability remains equal or better.
Hidden costs are a common issue in telecom procurement. Every stage should be clearly priced upfront. We prefer a model in which an initial setup fee is followed by a fixed monthly cost that remains unchanged throughout a 3–15-year service agreement. This structure is transparent and predictable for both the customer and us.
Looking for better telecom services for renewable energy sites?
Emtele FieldCom is purpose-built for critical connections.
The FieldCom communication solution combines high availability, robust functionality and top-tier cybersecurity — ensuring that power plants, substations, secondary substations and other critical OT devices maintain reliable connections to control centres and operational applications.
Contact
Joni Ekholm
Business areas MUKE & FieldCom
joni.ekholm (at) emtele.com
+358 40 508 7308
