In 2004 the Government developed the Policy on the use of Fixed Broadband Wireless Access (FBWA) Frequency Bands (FBWA Policy) which set out the requirements for operating in the 2.4 GHz (2400-2483.5 MHz) and 5.7 GHz (5725-5825 MHz) frequency bands. The FBWA Policy was created to allow other users to operate low powered short range devices, in the two frequency bands on a licence-exempt basis, whilst protecting the high powered licensed FBWA operation of two Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in these bands. In line with the Government’s aim to promote the expansion of a nationwide, all pervasive wireless access network for Internet access, the FBWA Policy has been reviewed in accordance with international best practices and consultation with telecommunication service providers and ISPs.

The review exercise, which started in mid 2007, was conducted under responsibility of the Communications Division of the Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT) under the umbrella of the Ministry of National Development (MND). After considerable research, consultation and benchmarking, the eligibility criteria, licensing and requirements for operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5.7 GHz bands have been modified in order to allow all telecommunication service providers and ISPs, present and prospective, to contribute towards the deployment of wireless access nationwide.

The revised FBWA Policy is split up into three parts; the first part lays out the eligibility criteria, licensing and operational requirements, the second part lays down the conditions pertaining to licence-exempt operation, and the third part identifies the regulation which includes provisions for the importation of radio equipment in the 2.4 GHz and 5.7 GHz bands. The revised FBWA Policy document can be obtained from the Communications Division at Caravelle House, 3rd Floor or can be downloaded from the ICT website. The main points of the revised FBWA Policy are summarized below.

The most notable change to the FBWA Policy is that the licensing restriction for high powered operation has been removed to allow all telecommunication service providers and ISPs to operate within the 2.4GHz and 5.7 GHz bands. Extra spectrum, 25 MHz worth, (designated as the 5.8 GHz band) has also been opened for use and allocated to the FBWA Policy. Operation in these bands shall be licence-exempt for all users. However, there will be two categories of users, telecommunication service providers and ISPs, operating at high power, and other users including the general public operating at low power. The maximum EIRP for BWA applications, in the 2.4 GHz band, for high power operation shall be 4 W and 100 mW for low power operation. Non BWA applications shall also operate at 100 mW EIRP in this band. In the 5.7/5.8 GHz bands, the maximum EIRP for BWA applications shall be 4 W for high power operation and 25 mW for low power non BWA applications. These power restrictions shall be applicable for point-to-multipoint operation, which is commonly used for deployment of private WLAN /Radio LAN and Access Points or last-mile connectivity by telecommunication service providers and ISPs. For point-to-point operation, or commonly known as backhauling, telecommunication service providers and ISPs shall be allowed to operate at a maximum EIRP of 200 W.

EIRP - Effective Isotropic Radiated Power
WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network


The high powered operation for telecommunication service providers and ISPs are in line with the FCC standards of the United States (US). These standards has been chosen primarily because of the harsh topographical environment of Seychelles which makes radio frequency planning a difficult undertaking and affects service deployment in remote areas. These constraints were raised during the afore-mentioned consultation. Also, new tower installations are strictly controlled by the Town and Country Planning Authority Department of the MND, which is a factor in limiting the range of wireless access to secluded areas, especially those preferred by hotels.

The licence-exempt operation adopted for operation in the 2.4 GHz and 5.7/5.8 GHz bands is based on a non-protection and non-interference basis. This means that licence-exempt radio communication network or radio communication equipment (licence-exempt operators) shall not cause or contribute to any harmful interference and that interference must be accepted which may be caused by the operation of authorized radio communication network or radio communication equipment, or other licence-exempt operators. Furthermore, complaints of interference by licence-exempt operators shall not be investigated by the Communications Division. Licence-exempt operators shall be required to cease operating the network or equipment if the same has been identified by the Communications Division to be causing harmful interference to authorized radio communication network or radio communication equipment. The licence-exempt conditions adopted is similar to what is being practiced in countries such as the US, Mauritius, Singapore and several countries of the European Union (EU) including the United Kingdom (UK).

Although, as a result of licence-exempt conditions, all protection from the Communications Division has been removed from the 2.4 GHz and 5.7/5.8 GHz bands, the possibility of interference between the two categories of BWA users in these bands is expected to be minimal. This is due to the fact that the equipment available on the international market for high powered operation, which is within the scope of the revised FBWA policy, is specifically manufactured to operate in licence-exempt bands.

To make identification between the high-powered and low powered equipment easy for the public, please note the following:

• Low power equipment are identified by the ETSI standards EN 300 328 and EN 300 440
• High power equipment are identified by the standards FCC Parts 15.247 and 15.407 or ETSI’s EN 302 502

Consequently, low power equipment with the afore-mentioned ETSI standards shall not require an import permit, which is in line with the current restricted radiocommunications equipment list in the Trades Tax (Imports) Regulations.

The DICT would like to thank the telecommunication service providers and ISPs for providing their views and comments during the consultation exercise.

FCC - Federal Communications Commission
ETSI - European Telecommunications Standardization Institute