Telephone equipment decommissioned in the 1930s was brought back into use during the Winter War, as only enough replacements had been acquired to meet training needs. Field telephone and field switchboard equipment were acquired from various sources during the war, resulting in as many as 34 different models in use. Despite procurement efforts, only about half the required number of field telephones were available during the Winter War.
As for radios, the Winter War began with essentially only training equipment, since there was hardly any in storage. Of the radios acquired and produced during the war, only individual units were delivered to the troops. Radios originally intended for civilian use were also taken into use by the Defence Forces.
The key tasks of signalmen included maintaining and servicing signal stations and telephone connections. The manpower strength of the signal troops soon proved too small for the tasks at hand, and there were too few trained reservists. Units remained partially understrength, and reservists trained in other branches were also assigned to signal duties. Even the training level of signal-trained personnel did not fully meet requirements. In addition to men, nearly 2,000 members of the Lotta Svärd organization were assigned to various signal tasks during the Winter War.
Telegraphists being trained in Mikkeli in February 1940.