{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-1991-287/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-1991-287/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudr/1991/287",
  "legislation_title": "Council Directive of 3 June 1991 on the frequency band to be designated for the coordinated introduction of digital European cordless telecommunications (DECT) into the Community (91/287/EEC)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-1991-287",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Directive\nof 3 June 1991\non the frequency band to be designated for the coordinated introduction of digital European cordless telecommunications (DECT) into the Community\n(91/287/EEC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nIn cooperation with the European Parliament,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,\nWhereas recommendation 84/549/EEC calls for the introduction of services on the basis of a common harmonized approach in the field of telecommunications;\nWhereas the Council in its resolution of 30 June 1988 on the development of the common market for telecommunications services and equipment calls for the promotion of Europe-wide services according to market requirements;\nWhereas the resources offered by modern telecommunications networks should be utilized to the full for the economic development of the Community;\nWhereas Council Directive 89/336/EEC of 3 May 1989 on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility is applicable, and particular attention should be taken to avoid harmful electromagnetic interference;\nWhereas current cordless telephone systems in use in the Community, and the frequency bands they operate in, vary widely and may not allow the benefits of Europe-wide services or benefit from the economies of scale associated with a truly European market;\nWhereas the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) is currently developing the European Telecommunications Standard (ETS) or digital European cordless telecommunications (DECT);\nWhereas the development of the European Telecommunications Standard (ETS) must take account of the safety of users, and the need for Europe-wide interoperability and enable users provided with a service based on DECT technology in one Member State to gain access to the service in any other Member State, where appropriate;\nWhereas the European implementation of DECT will provide an important opportunity to establish truly European digital cordless telephone facilities;\nWhereas ETSI has estimated that DECT will require 20 MHz in high density areas;\nWhereas the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) has recommended the common European frequency band 1880-1900 MHz for DECT, recognizing that, subject to the system, development of DECT additional frequency spectrum may be required;\nWhereas this should be taken into account in the preparation for the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC);\nWhereas after the date of designation of the frequency band for DECT, existing services may continue in the band, providing that they do not interfere with DECT systems that may be established according to commercial demand;\nWhereas the implementation of Council recommendation 91/288/EEC of 3 June 1991 on the coordinated introduction of DECT into the Community, will ensure the implementation of DECT by 31 December 1992 at the latest;\nWhereas Council Directive 91/263/EEC of 29 April 1991 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning telecommunications terminal equipment, including the mutual recognition of their conformity will allow the rapid establishment of common conformity specifications for DECT;\nWhereas the establishment of DECT depends on the allocation and availability of a frequency band in order to transmit and receive between fixed-base stations and mobile stations;\nWhereas some flexibility will be needed in order to take account of different frequency requirements in different Member States; it will be necessary to ensure that such flexibility does not slow down the implementation of DECT technology according to commercial demand across the Community;\nWhereas the progressive availability of the full range of the frequency band set out above will be indispensable for the establishment of DECT on a Europe-wide basis,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ No C 187, 27. 7. 1990, p. 5."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ No C 19, 28. 1. 1991, p. 97 and OJ No C 106, 22. 4. 1991, p. 78."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "OJ No C 332, 31. 12. 1990, p. 172."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "OJ No L 298, 16. 11. 1984, p. 49."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f5",
      "text": "OJ No C 257, 4. 10. 1988, p. 1."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f6",
      "text": "OJ No L 139, 23. 5. 1989, p. 19."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f7",
      "text": "See page 47 of this Official Journal."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f8",
      "text": "OJ No L 128, 23. 5. 1991, p. 1."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/1991/287/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:23:25.782010+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}