ARCEP publishes a scientific study on the levels of electromagnetic fields produced by WiFi equipment

Paris, 6 April 2007

ARCEP is publishing the study it commissioned from the Départements Electromagnétisme et Télécoms of the Ecole Supérieure d’Electricité (Supélec) on the levels of the electromagnetic fields produced by radio networks (RLAN) operating at 2.45 GHz. ARCEP cannot be held liable for the methodology used and results obtained, as they are the sole responsibility of Supélec.

On the regulatory level, under directive 1999/5/EC (the R&TTE directive), it is the responsibility of manufacturers—then of any installers—to inform users or operators of the conditions of use and implementation of equipment in order to ensure that they respect requirements. These requirements include that regarding the health and safety of all persons, and in particular the limits established by decree number 2002-775 dated 3 May 2002 regarding the public’s exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Given the major development of wireless local networks (RLAN) such as WiFi, ARCEP, which defines the conditions of use of such equipment through the publication of regulated wireless interfaces, wished to dispose of information concerning the practical situation, and of hot spots in particular, with respect to the regulations regarding the protection of public health.

This rendered necessary an evaluation of the electromagnetic fields generated by RLAN equipment (which use primarily the WiFi standard) in order to determine where they stand with respect to the public exposure limits defined by the decree of May 2002.

The primary conclusion of the study is that, for conditions conforming with the wireless regulation of RLAN, the exposure limits of the public to electromagnetic fields defined in decree number 2002-775 are respected for all cases of use of RLAN equipment measured or simulated in the study.

Interested parties are invited to share any comments with ARCEP.