Tampere to Close Central Switchboard as Call Volumes Fall Sharply
The City of Tampere will close its central switchboard on 31 December 2026 after call volumes routed through it fell sharply as residents increasingly contact service units directly.
According to the City of Tampere, Tampere will close its central switchboard on 31 December 2026. The decision follows a steep drop in calls as residents increasingly contact service units directly.
Calls routed through the switchboard fell from more than 30,000 in 2022 to under 11,000 in 2024. This year they are expected to be about half of last year’s total – a steep decline.
Staff have been updating printed materials and online pages to replace the old switchboard number with direct contact details for individual units. Many recent enquiries to the switchboard were for organisations outside the city administration, such as the regional wellbeing area.
The change is part of broader shifts in how residents access services, including the recent opening of new walk-in service points and updates to contact channels announced last week. Regional services have centralised SMS contact numbers to simplify bookings and communication for residents with hearing or speech impairments earlier this year.
"The city's goal is to ensure residents can still find the contact information they need easily and reliably," said service manager Hanna-Leena Björk. Residents can find unit contacts, online services and feedback channels on the Contact us web page, or reach the Tampere service point by email at [email protected] or by phone at 041 7308 168.
Earlier coverage
Catch the full story over at City of Tampere
