Under article R20-44-11 of the French postal and electronic communications code, the Agency is “in charge of the international coordination of frequencies at the borders”.
The coordination is governed by agreements at the ITU region level and/or at the multilateral level. These agreements describe the rights negotiated for each signatory administration as well as the procedure to modify them, when applicable.
The agency’s role consists of three main missions:
Border coordination
The Agency conducts negotiations for cross-border coordination of mobile networks in cooperation with the ARCEP and the operators.
The border coordination activity by means of framework agreements mainly concerns the land line service, the mobile service and broadcasting. Where such specific agreements exist or where the general rules are sufficient, as in other frequency bands, it is then necessary to determine the possible impact of each new assignment project on either side of the borders. Case-by-case analyses are also conducted before framework agreements are signed, to safeguard French interests in the negotiations.
Processing cases of possible interference
Border coordination is intended to prevent the risk of adverse interference with the networks of neighbouring countries. However, specific cases of interference may occur between two networks at borders. In accordance with article L.43 of the CPCE, the ANFR is in charge of receiving complaints and investigating cases of radio frequency interference reported to it.
Where a border agreement is in force, consultation meetings with the ANFR's foreign counterparts and the operators concerned make it possible for interference cases to be examined in the light of the rules laid down in the agreement, and can, if necessary, lead to the agreement being revised.
In the absence of a border agreement, the general framework defined by the Radio Regulations (RR) applies, and in particular the rule of prior registration of stations in the MIFR file (see next section). The ANFR puts its foreign counterparts in contact with the operators concerned to identify the source of the interference and find technical solutions to put an end to it. Depending on the origin of the interference, these consultations may lead to the negotiation of a border agreement.
Registering stations with the MIFR
The Agency notifies French assignments, which must be registered in the MIFR (Master International Frequency Register). This international frequency reference file contains frequency assignments and their characteristics as notified to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Indeed, if technical adjustments and the implementation of an agreement have not been able to prevent the interference, the RR applies, and therefore the seniority rule.