Proposed Policy to exempt licensing of systems operating in the 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz ISM Bands

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In early May 2004, the Ministry of Public Administration & Information released a proposed policy “to exempt licensing of systems operating in the 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz Industrial, Scientific & Medical (ISM) Bands for the provision of affordable wireless connectivity and Broadband Internet Access”.

The proposed policy recommends the use of 2.4GHz systems (such as 802.11b, 802.11g, Bluetooth) to be deployed within the constraints of or between the user’s premises for non-third party applications and 5.8GHz systems (such as 802.11a) to be deployed for both public and private network services.

The deadline for comments from the public on this proposed policy was Friday 28th May 2004.

Our main point in the comments on the proposed policy :

The 2.4GHz band should be given the same privileges as the 5.8GHz band and let users/market forces decide which band is more appropriate for their needs. In other words, 2.4GHz systems should be allowed to be deployed for both public and private network services, just like 5.8GHz systems.

Spectrum Plan for Accommodation of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Services.

In April 2006, the Telecommmunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) published a Spectrum Plan for Accommodation of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Services for comment. “..This plan proposes spectrum bands based on current wireless access technologies and sets out the approach to be adopted by the Authority towards licensing of these bands.”

In this document, this April 2006 policy states

6.3.4 Individual or user licences will not be required in order to use radiocommunication equipment in the 2.4 GHz band.

6.3.5 Radiocommunication systems using the 2.4 GHz band can be used for both private or public telecommunications networks and services or broadcasting services.

A 2nd version of Spectrum Plan for the Accommodation of Broadband Wireless Access Services was posted in July 2006