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France finally plans to liberalise wireless LAN frequencies - in 2004

Anybody in need of cheering up about the slow progress of wireless in the UK can take comfort from a comparison with France, where it isn't just illegal to operate a "for-profit" wireless LAN hot-spot; it's illegal to have one in a public space at all. And there's no rush to change this ...

This may be going to change, but the report finally produced by the Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications (ART) isn't proposing to rush it. There has been a "consultation" period, and at the end of that, the Ministry of Defence has, grudgingly, agreed that the WiFi and Bluetooth frequencies can be opened up. One day. Starting no sooner than 2004.

The Ministry of Defence — which is the current user of the wave-band - has reached an agreement with ART which now expects that "the 2400-2483.5 MHz frequency band will be made available for equipment with an effective isotropic radiated power of 100 mW inside buildings and 10 mW outside the buildings beginning 1 January 2004." But that's just the beginning.

The agreement follows a questionnaire sent to selected respondents - but which focused only on wireless LAN issues - unlike the rather more radical review of the UK licensing arrangements which started this time last year. The consultation document was published in December 2001; responses were accepted up until February 2002.

Current regulations - which still apply - state that he maximum power authorised indoors is 10 mW for the entire 2.4 GHz band (2400 MHz- 2483.5 MHz), and 100 mW for frequencies ranging from 2446.5 MHz to 2483.5 MHz.

Outdoor applications are allowed, but are very limited: on private property or the private property of public persons, the use of WLANs is "subject to a prior authorisation procedure with the opinion of the Ministry of Defence," and maximum power of 100 mW in the 2446.5 – 2483.5 MHz band; the outdoor use of WLANs on public property is not permitted.

When it comes to the new 5GHz range of frequencies used by the 802.11a "WiFi 5" standard and by Hiperlan, France is even more restrictive - the indoor use of frequencies in the 5150 MHz-5350 MHz band is authorised with a maximum power of 200 mW, and the outdoor use "is forbidden." The 5470 MHz -5725 MHz band is not currently available.

Having got the agreement of the Ministry of Defence, ART is "initiating discussions on legislative and technical issues in order to make the regulation on WLAN networks more flexible."

No timetable has been published for when these legislative changes can be expected. Logically, the aim will be to have a new regulatory structure in place for the start of 2004 when the licence is released by the Ministry of Defence; but there's no commitment to this in the press release.