The French telecoms regulator has again authorized the use of frequencies by Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite Internet access service. The Council of State had canceled the allocation of these frequencies in April 2022.
They are only 4000, but they can blow. French users of the Starlink satellite Internet network will be able to use their device again thanks to a decision by the Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (Arcep) this Friday, June 3, 2022.
The frequency manager had allocated radio frequencies to Elon Musk’s company on February 18, 2021, before the Council of State, seized by the environmental associations Priartem and Agir pour l’environnement, canceled this authorization on April 5, 2022. Arcep was criticized for not consulting the public before granting these frequencies. A decision “likely to have a significant impact on the market for the provision of high-speed Internet access, and to affect users”according to the Council of State.
Useful equipment in white areas
Starlink had to submit a new request for these frequencies, and Arcep opened a public consultation on April 8, 2022, in accordance with the decision of the Council of State, to gather the reactions of interested parties. According to Arcep, the contributions to this public consultation have in particular highlighted the interest of the Starlink service in developing the connectivity of mobile “white zones” or poorly served by fiber networks.
“In view of the contributions received, Arcep has taken decision no. 2022-1102, which it is publishing today, granting Starlink Internet Services Limited an authorization to use radio frequencies, for a network open to the public. enabling it to provide fixed Internet access via satellite”indicates the electronic communications regulatory authority.
In addition, the company Starlink requested authorizations to use frequencies linked to an earth station (Gateway) contributing to the operation of the network. These frequencies are used to allow the satellite to connect to the terrestrial network. Authorizations that have been validated by Arcep there too. Remember that the Starlink network is based on hundreds of satellites moving around the Earth in low orbit. It requires equipment that sells for nearly €600, as well as a subscription of nearly €100 per month.