Brought to you as a public service of the Open Spectrum Foundation (Stichting Open Spectrum), Amsterdam - Prague

NEWS

Mexico authorizing "bands of free use" for communication and Internet access

Mexico's federal telecom commission COFETEL has submitted new rules to the Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) for publication in the government's official gazette this month, authorizing license-exempt communication in the 902-928, 2400-2483.5, 5.150-5.350 and 5.725-5.850 MHz bands.

The rules were posted on COFETEL's website on 22 July 2005 after two years of "study, discussion and tests," according to an online article from El Universal.

"Bandas de uso libre sujeto a condiciones técnicas y de operación que reduzcan al mínimo las probabilidades de interferencia perjudicial de manera similar a lo que sucede en otros países del mundo" (bands of free use subject to specifications of technology and of operation that minimize the probabilities of harmful interference in a manner similar to what occurs in other countries of the world) are authorized by the new rules, which become effective after they are published.

Unlicensed use of most of these bands had been authorised in Mexico since 1993, but only for Industrial, Scientific and Medical applications.

A former secretary of COFETEL's board, Adriana Labardini, wrote an article in Government Technology News last February criticizing her successors for restricting unlicensed Wi-fi. She said such restrictions were not based on an accurate interpretation of Mexico's telecommunications law. In fact, the changes in policy that are now being implemented are not the result of any change in the law.

[Wireless: posted 1 September 2005]