The Finnish Trust Network and its Use Cases
What is the Finnish Trust Network (FTN)?
The Finnish Trust Network (FTN) is Finland's primary digital identity scheme, comprising Mobiilivarmenne (Mobile ID) and BankIDs provided by various banks in the country.
Introduced in 2019, FTN is now utilized in thousands of public and private services throughout Finland, offering the broadest, most secure user verification options.
FTN is an exceptionally flexible identity service, letting companies authenticate users by collecting all of Finland's eIDs on a single platform.
Let’s take a look at the differences between Mobiilivarmenne (MobileID) and the Finnish BankID.
Mobiilivarmenne (Mobile ID)
Mobiilivarmenne is supported and accessible through telecommunication operators Telia, DNA, or Elisa. By partnering with Criipto, businesses can seamlessly integrate FTN with Mobiilivarmenne Telia.
As one of the most user-friendly methods of identity authentication in Finland, Mobiilivarmenne is available for over 20,000 services. Users can effortlessly start using it by connecting their SIM card and choosing a PIN code. This eliminates the need for passwords and improves security against password theft while providing a smooth user experience.
Read more about Mobiilivarmenne.
Finnish BankID
Finnish BankID is the second method of identity authentication in Finland, offered by a group of banks operating in the country.
The main difference is that with Mobile ID, the user experience is the same for all users, while the BankID authentication flow depends on the specific bank you select.
Banks that offer Finnish BankID are:
- Osuuspankki
- Nordea
- Danske Bank
- Handelsbanken
- Ålandsbanken
- S-Pankki
- Aktia
- POP Pankki
- Säästöpankki
- Oma Säästöpankki
Why did FTN replace TUPAS?
Before FTN, TUPAS was the primary identity service in Finland for 20 years. But because it could not comply with the new Finnish data protection regulations and the eIDAS requirements introduced in Europe, TUPAS was phased out in 2019.
With the introduction of FTN, the process for companies seeking to implement authentication or digital signatures became much simpler. Unlike TUPAS, which required each BankID to be individually integrated, FTN now provides a collective approach that streamlines implementation for businesses.
Use cases for FTN
FTN can be used for many applications across industries, letting companies enhance security, minimize fraud, deliver seamless login experiences, and much more.
Reduce fraud in online marketplaces
The sharing economy is growing significantly, and trust is paramount to ensuring people's safety. This is where user verification plays a pivotal role. FTN lets online marketplaces authenticate the identity of every user, fostering trust and reliability.
Hygglo is a great example of a company leveraging user verification to enhance its peer-to-peer renting platform. Operating in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, Hygglo understands that identity verification is vital to their business success. By using verification to instill trust, Hygglo has effectively reduced fraud on its platform and made interactions safer for all users.
Read the Hygglo customer story.
Secure authentication for financial services
Financial services must ensure safe user verification to adhere to stringent security and compliance standards. FTN has emerged as the primary solution used by financial services and has become common practice among the Finnish population.
MobilePay is a prominent example of a company harnessing the potential of FTN. As a provider of seamless payment solutions for everyday use, trust is critical for the MobilePay app. Before users can send or receive money via MobilePay, they must go through an onboarding process through FTN.
FTN plays a vital role in verifying user identities, leading to a high level of trust in the MobilePay app and its services.
Age verification
It's not possible to purchase alcohol online in Finland. However, the Finnish government made suggestions to the current alcohol laws last year, including legalizing online alcohol sales.
As part of this process, investigations have been made regarding the challenges. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) have looked into this and concludes that secure age verification is one of the biggest issues. They suggest that age verification must be performed at point of purchase and at point of delivery to ensure minors can't get access.
When this regulation comes into force, retailers will have to decide on an age verification process that is considered secure enough by the Finnish government. Verification through Mobiilivarmenne or the Bank IDs includes the user's birthdate and is an efficient method to verify ages. FTN is already widely used and will play a key role in the future of online alcohol sales.
How to get your business started with FTN
Are you looking to authenticate your customers or users via FTN?
Criipto makes integrating with FTN straightforward. There are no prerequisites, although you need to apply for a production agreement with Telia. It’s a simple process, and we'll assist you throughout.
