Communiqué de presse

ARCEP publishes a summary of its public consultation on the introduction of broadband networks in the 450-470 MHz band

Version française

Paris, 12 July 2005

ARCEP published today a summary of the contributions to its public consultation, held between 12 April and 30 May 2005, on introducing broadband professional PMR/PAMR mobile networks in the 450-470 MHz frequency band.

The aim of the consultation was to understand players' views on the evolution of mobile professional networks towards high speed. Although it dealt with both independent PMR networks and public PAMR networks, its focus was on introducing public mobile PAMR networks.

Sixteen players contributed to this public consultation, and are listed in this press release.

Three main points were raised by consultation :

 

  • No request was made to deploy a public PAMR mobile network

  • There is no immediate need for frequencies by broadband independent PMR networks; these needs can be expected by the end of the decade. Interest in the 450-470 MHz band was reaffirmed by certain players with a view to implementing independent narrowband PMR networks, as a complement to the 410-430 MHz band, which is already open.

  • A possible new use for this band was mentioned by one contribution, to complement Wimax networks.

Therefore, given the lack of demand by market players, ARCEP has decided to close works on the question of introducing a public PAMR mobile network.

Future uses of the adjacent 1.5 MHz duplex block held by ARCEP in the 450-470 MHz band will be defined at a later date based on real market needs.

To this end, new needs for independent PMR networks will be studied at the appropriate time, based on a review of the first-come, first-served authorisation procedure open since January 2005 in the 410-430 MHz band for narrowband networks, and on an updated view of the evolution of these independent networks towards broadband.

The issue of access to low frequency bands by infrastructures deployed to complement Wimax networks will be analysed, taking account of the development of wireless local loop networks. On 8 July ARCEP announced the launch of authorisation procedures for the 3.4-3.8 GHz band for use by WLL networks.