PTS

The National Post and Telecom Agency of Sweden (PTS) is a public authority that reports to the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications and is headed by a board appointed by the Government. The Director-general is the executive manager. Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to liberalise its postal and telecommunications markets, as early as in 1993, when PTS was founded. PTS is the authority that monitors the electronic communications and postal sectors in Sweden. Electronic communications refer to telephony, the Internet and radio spectrum. PTS strives to achieve long-term added value for consumers, long-term sustainable competition, efficient utilisation of resources and secure communications. PTS is responsible for licensing and supervision of spectrum. PTS´s head office is located in Stockholm. The work of PTS is allocated between the Strategy and Communications Department and six operational departments: the Frequency Management- the Competition- the Consumer Affairs-, the Network Security-, the Postal Affairs- and the Spectrum Market Department. There are also support departments for administration, personnel and legal issues. In total approximately 250 people work at PTS.

Many of PTS´S employees are lawyers, economists or engineers. The authority also has four offices for radio supervision in various parts of Sweden and an office dealing with lost letters. PTS participates in a number of international organisation. Much of this work aims to harmonise the participating countries systems of rules and thereby make it simpler for equipment manufacturers, operators and consumers alike. PTS participates actively in, for instance, organisations connected to the EU such as IRG/ERG (Independent European Regulators Group), RSPG (Radio Spectrum Policy Group) and RSC (Radio Spectrum Committe). PTS is also actively participating within the ITU-R (International Telecommunications Organisation - Radio Sector) and the CEPT (Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations) and other international foras for spectrum management. The work is often carried out in cooperation with other national and international authorities and has a strong influence on the international spectrum regulations.