12.06.2008

Use of radio microphones continues unchanged for the time being

The use of radio microphones, in-ear monitors and other wireless audio applications used in programme production can be continued in frequency bands 790-822 MHz and 854-862 MHz for the time being. The frequencies will not be used for mobile networks until years from now. Before that, enough replacing frequencies to meet the demand will be identified for radio microphone use.

Last autumn, the World Radiocommunication Conference decided that in the future it is possible to use the frequency range 790-862 MHz for broadband mobile networks in all European countries. The plan is that the frequency range will be designated for mobile networks in the future also in Finland.

Radio microphone licences granted by FICORA will remain valid and new licences will be granted until the frequencies are later taken in use by mobile networks. FICORA will contact each licence holder when the frequency change takes place.

The European Commission will make a plan for arranging the use of radio microphone frequencies in the future. The report will be completed in the summer of 2009. The starting point for the report is that the number of frequencies available for radio microphones will continue to meet the demand.

Preliminary studies have focused on e.g. the following solution alternatives:

• In geographic areas where one or multiple tv channels are available, the frequency range 470-862 MHz could be used for radio microphones (so-called white space).
• The so-called centre gap which is not used by the 790-862 MHz mobile network can also be used by radio microphones.

At present, radio microphones can already be used in Finland and elsewhere in Europe in both the 1785-1800 MHz frequency band which is subject to licence and the 863-865 MHz band which has been exempted from licensing.

In Finland, the new solutions for radio microphone frequencies will be taken in use and new licences for the frequencies granted as soon as possible after the technical investigations are finished.

A customer notice regarding licences for 800 MHz radio microphones is available on the FICORA website.

Further information:

Deputy Director Margit Huhtala tel. +358 9 6966 425
Senior Network Specialist Tapio Penkkala tel. +358 9 6966 469
Head of Radio Network Unit Kirsi Karlamaa tel. +358 9 6966 477
Chief Engineer Petri Lehikoinen tel. +358 9 6966 887

E-mail addresses for FICORA staff follow the format: firstname.lastname@ficora.fi.