ART launches a consultation to identify market interest in the WLL in 3,4 - 3,8 GHz band

Paris, 29 June 2004

Following the return of frequency resources in the 3.4 –3.6 GHz band by wireless local loop (WLL) operators, Autorité de régulation des télécommunications (ART) now has a 15 MHz duplex available for all of Metropolitan France.

Since the beginning of this year, a number of players have expressed interest in this resource. This renewed interest appears to be related to the emergence of the American IEEE 802.16 standard which defines solutions for high-speed wireless networks, in particular in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band. This standard is supported by the "WIMAX" consortium of manufacturers whose role is to certify the interoperability of equipment under the 802.16 standard.

Projects of which ART is aware deal with a wide variety of coverage areas: national, multi-regional, départementale and municipal. These contacts seem to indicate that these resources are more scarce than had been concluded by the public consultation completed in March 2003, which is why ART has decided to suspend all allocations of this frequency band for the near future.

It is now launching a public consultation to gather the opinions of concerned players on all aspects related to the use and allocation of frequencies in these bands.

The purpose is to:

• determine market interest in the wireless local loop (WLL) and WIMAX technology in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band

 

• better understand the degree of maturity of the technology, the availability of equipment as well as the types of projects currently being prepared

 

• identify, if necessary, other spectrum resources available in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band for the wireless local loop

 

• prepare the means of allocation (auction or comparative selection) of the available resource

 

Practical information

Contributions should be sent to ART by 30 September 2004 at the latest, preferably by e-mail: blr(@)art-telecom.fr