ART publishes its action plan and reminds of the currently authorised uses of WLAN technology

11 June 2002

Following ART's (Autorité de régulation des télécommunications) report on the results of its consultation document on wireless networks ("Wi Fi") in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, ART now announces changes to the conditions of use of these frequency bands in order to allow commercial telecommunications services by the end of this year.

• An easing of the conditions of use in "hotspots" by the end of 2002

 

ART presented yesterday to a consultation committee (Commission Consultative des Radiocommunications) six draft decisions opening the way for Internet fast access for end users in hot spots (e.g. airports, hotels).

According to DE 98/34, ART now has to notify these draft decisions to the European Commission in order to allow other members states and the Commission to raise concerns about potential barriers to trade. The decisions will then need to be approved by the Ministry of Telecommunications.

These decisions open the way for fast speed Internet connections using WLAN technologies in areas like airports and hotels, as this is the case in some other European countries.

• Discussions with the Ministry of Defence

 

ART pursues discussions with the Ministry of Defence in order to :

- allow the use of the entire 2.4 GHz band with a power of less than 100 milliwatts (mW) indoors and of less than 10 mW outdoors.

The Ministry of Defence has informed ART that these conditions already apply in certain departments (départements, French main administrative division) listed in appendix. An additional list will be published on 2003.

- Apply CEPT recommendation as soon as possible, i.e. the use of the 2.4 GHz band with a power of less then 100 milliwatts (mW) indoors and outdoors.

• Guidelines setting the conditions for experimental public network in ill served areas

 

ART will publish this summer guidelines defining the conditions under which temporary public network can be established, in particular in the 2.4 GHz frequency band.

These experiments will allow to test these technologies and assess their capacity to provide high speed Internet access in parts of the country that are currently ill served by existing networks.

• Un nécessaire Review of currently authorised uses

 

WLAN technologies are currently available only to private networks under the technical conditions presented in the appendix.

APPENDIX 1

Technical restrictions

Maximum authorised power indoors is:

• 10 mW for the entire 2.4 GHz band (2400 MHz-2483.5 MHz)

 

• 100 mW for frequencies between 2446.5 MHz and 2483.5 MHz

 

There are few possibilities for outdoor use: on private property or on the private property of public persons, use is subject to a preliminary authorisation procedure by the Ministry of Defence, with maximum authorised power of 100 mW in the 2446.5-2483.5 MHz band. Use outdoors on public property is not permitted.

In the départements listed in annex 2, for the entire 2.4 GHz band:

• maximum authorised power indoors is 100 mW

• maximum authorised power outdoors is 10 mW

In accordance with the decisions of the CEPT, frequencies in the 5150 MHz-5350 MHz band may be used indoors with maximum power of 200 mW. Their use is forbidden outdoors. The 5470 MHz﷓5725 MHz band is not currently open.

APPENDIX 2

Départements in which the use of the 2400-2483.5 MHz band is permitted
with an EIRP of less than 100 mW indoors and less than 10 mW outdoors