The French Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Authorises Trials

Paris, 23 April 1998

During the symposium held at the Sénat on 9 April, ART chairman, Jean-Michel Hubert, announced that ART had issued its decision laying down the conditions governing wireless local loop (WLL) trials in France. These trials will take place over a one-year period (the preparatory phase) in the 3.4-3.6 GHz and 27.5-29.5 GHz frequency bands.

• Wireless Local Loop: the key to opening up telecommunications to competition in France

WLL technology is essential for competition in the telecommunications market, as it opens up the local access market to effective, sustainable competitors, thus supplementing the possibilities offered by cable networks.

Wireless technology can already be used to replace traditional copper wire for fixed telephony. The systems are flexible to implement, and can carry advanced, multimedia services, thereby boosting the development of the Information Society.

• Pragmatic and progressive approach

ART began studying the means of introducing wireless local loop systems in France, in 1997. It based its reflection on contributions received from market players to a public consultation, and on preliminary observations of the European market.

ART then drafted a plan for the introduction of wireless local loop systems, identifying the 3.4-3.6 GHz and 27.5-29.5 GHz frequency bands for point-to-multipoint systems. Its proposals were put to the French Radiocommunications Consultative Commission.

In accordance with the Commission's recommendations, ART chose to adopt a progressive approach, enabling players to test the technology of their choice in these frequency bands, before allocating the frequencies for permanent use. The sites where trials will take place will be chosen, with the applicants, in the near future. They will be located outside of Paris and its immediate suburb.

• DECT: ART allocates frequencies to public network operators

ART is also continuing to allocate frequencies in the DECT band to public network operators, for wireless local loop and cordless point-to-multipoint systems. These frequencies are allocated non-exclusively, on request.

Frequencies have already been allocated to several operators - France Télécom, Cegetel and Aéroport de Paris - for this purpose.