S.I. No. 435/2002 - Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Radio Systems) Regulations, 2002

Type Statutory Instrument
Publication 2002-08-28
Last updated 2025-04-01
State In force superseded text
Text As published
articles 14

This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.

2 amending acts · 2025-04-01, S.I. No. 99/2025 - Wireless Telegraphy (Transfer and Lease of Individual Rights of Use fo…

Reform history JSON API

I, Etain Doyle, Director of Telecommunications Regulation, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 6 (1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926 (No. 45 of 1926), and section 4 of the Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1996 (No. 34 of 1996) and with the consent of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources pursuant to subsection (8) of the said section 4 and the Communications, Energy and Geological Survey of Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 ( No. 300 of 2002 ) and the Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 ( No. 307 of 2002 ), hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation

1.

1.

These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Radio Systems Regulations, 2002

Interpretation

2.

2.

(1) In these Regulations -

“authorised officer” means a person appointed by the Director in writing to be an authorised officer for the purpose of the Regulations;

“base station” means a station located at a fixed location which communicates either with mobile stations, or fixed mobile stations and mobile stations;

“fixed mobile station” means a station located at a fixed location which communicates with a base station and/or mobile stations;

“harmful interference” means interference which endangers the functioning of a radionavigation service or other safety services or which otherwise seriously degrades obstructs or repeatedly interrupts any lawfully operating radio-communications service;

“insolvency related event” in respect of a Licensee means any of the following:

“Licence” means a Licence under section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926 (No. 45 of 1926) for a mobile radio system or mobile radio systems as defined in the Regulations and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“Licensee” means the holder of a Licence;

“Licensing Regulations” means the European Communities (Telecommunications Licences Regulations, 1998 ( SI No. 96 of 1998 );

“licensed system” means a mobile radio system for which a Licence has been granted under the Regulations;

“mobile station” means a station intended to be used while being moved or during halts at unspecified points and includes handportable stations;

“mobile radio system” means a system using radio frequencies to provide wireless two way communication between two or more stations, at least one of which must be a mobile station and being of a type set out in Part I of the Licence.

“station” means any apparatus for wireless telegraphy capable of being used for the purposes of transmitting and/ or receiving messages by means of radiated electro-magnetic waves;

“Telecommunications Licence” means a Licence under section 111 of the Act of 1983;

“the Act of 1926” means the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926 (No. 45 of 1926);

“the Act of 1983” means the postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983 (No. 24 of 1983);

“the Director” means the Director of Telecommunications Regulation appointed under the Telecommunication (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1996 (No. 34 of 1996);

“the Regulations” means the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile radio systems) Regulations, 2002 (S.I. No. of 2002).

Licences to which these Regulations apply

3.

3.

These Regulations apply to mobile radio systems, having the characteristics as set out in the Licence, operating in accordance with the technical conditions of the Licence and to which no other Regulation under the Act of 1926 applies.

Limitation of Licence

4.

4.

(1) A Licence does not grant to the Licensee any right, interest or entitlement other than the right to keep, have possession of, install, maintain, work and use the mobile radio systems.

Licence application

5.

5.

(1) An application for a Licence shall be in such form and subject to such conditions as shall be specified by the Director from time to time.

Addresses for notices

6.

6.

(1) Where the Licensee is domiciled in the European Union (the “EU”), the Licensee shall on the grant of his or her Licence furnish in writing to the Director the address and, where appropriate, fax number and/or email address, within the EU to which notices and other documents under these Regulations may be delivered or sent by post or by telecommunications services operated in accordance with the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983 (No. 24 of 1983), to him or her, by or on behalf of the Director and shall, as occasion requires, likewise furnish any change of address, fax number or email address and such notice or document delivered to, or sent by post, or by such telecommunications services, to such address, fax number or email address so furnished shall be deemed for the purposes of these Regulations to have been duly served by the Director.

Form of Licence

7.

7.

The Licence shall be in the form specified in the First Schedule with such variation, if any, (whether by addition, deletion or alteration) as the Director may determine from time to time in accordance with applicable national or EC law.

Continuance in force of Licences

8.

8.

Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, every Licence shall, unless previously surrendered by the Licensee, or unless or until it is revoked or renewed by the Director, and subject to any suspension thereof, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, continue in force from the date of commencement until the date of termination, as set out in Part VIII of the Licence.

Renewal of Licences

9.

9.

(1) Subject to the provisions of these Regulation, the licensing Regulations, as applicable, any requirement under applicable national and EC law and any terms and conditions as may be specified by the Director acting in accordance with her statutory powers under national and EC law the Director may renew a Licence.

Licence fees

10.

10.

Fees as set out and provided for in the Second Schedule are hereby prescribed in relation to Licences for the purpose of section 6 of the Act of 1926.

11.

11.

(1) Any fee paid in respect of a Licence pursuant to these Regulations shall not be refundable in the event of revocation, suspension or amendment of the Licence pursuant to these Regulations or through the operation of any other law.

12.

12.

All fees payable under these Regulations shall be paid to the Director of Telecommunications Regulation and shall be so paid in cash, by cheque, money order or postal order, or by such other means as the Director for the time being considers appropriate.

Licence conditions

13.

13.

It shall be a condition of the Licence that:-

ensure that the notice is complied with.

Information and inspections

14.

14.

(1) A Licensee shall -

For the purposes of this subparagraph, control means the possession directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies whether through ownership of voting rights, by contract or otherwise;

Enforcement, amendment, revocation and suspension

15 (1) The Director may amend a Licence from time to time where objectively justifiable and in a proportionate manner, in accordance with the Licensing Regulations, as applicable, and any requirement under applicable national or EC law.

16.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Regulations, the Director or an authorised officer may where he or she is of the opinion that a licensed system, or part thereof, is causing, or is likely to cause, harmful interference, and in particular to apparatus for wireless telegraphy used for the purpose of any safety of life service or for any purpose on which the safety of life service or for any purpose on which the safety of any person or of any vessel, aircraft or vehicle may depend, serve on the Licensee a notice, prohibiting the use, or as appropriate requiring that the use of such licensed system, or part thereof, as may be specified in the notice, cease forthwith or on or before such date and time as may be so specified, and the Licensee shall not use or as appropriate shall cease to use the licensed system, or part thereof, unless and until such notice has been withdrawn by the Director, or an authorised officer, and shall otherwise take such measures (if any) as may be specified by the Director, or an authorised officer, in the notice.

Compliance

17 (1) Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, the Licensing Regulations as applicable and any requirements under applicable national or EC law, the Licensee shall comply with any direction, requirement or notice given to him or her by or on behalf of the Director in respect of any matter which direction, requirement or notice is, in the opinion of the Director, appropriate having regard to the functions of the Director.

Authorised Officer

18 (1) The Director may appoint such members of the staff of the Director as she considers appropriate to be authorised officers for the purpose of these Regulations.

Amendment of Community Repeater Regulations

19 Regulation 11 (c) of the Wireless Telegraphy (Community Repeater Licence Regulations, 1988 (S.I. 83 of 1988) is hereby revoked.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926

Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Radio Systems) Regulations, 2002

Licence under Section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926 , to keep, have possession of, install, maintain, work and use mobile radio systems

1.

The Director, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926 (No. 45 of 1926), and Section 4 of the Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1996 (No. 34 of 1996) and pursuant to the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Radio Systems) Regulations, 2002 (S.I. No. of 2002) grants to the Licensee specified in Part II of this Licence authorisation to keep, have possession of install, maintain, work and use a mobile radio system in any part of the State of the type described in Part I of this Licence and of the description and having the characteristics described in Part IV of this Licence and subject to the terms and conditions as set out in this Licence and prescribed by the Regulations and any other applicable provision of national or EC law.

2.

This Licence shall come into operation and terminate on the dates specified in Part VIII and shall, unless previously surrendered by the Licensee or unless or until it is revoked or renewed by the Director, and subject to any suspension thereof, continue in force from the commencement date until the termination date.

3.

The Licensee shall comply with the technical conditions set out in Part V and with any alterations or additions thereto notified to the Licensee in writing by or on behalf of the Director.

4.

The Licensee shall comply with any loading criteria set out in Part VI.

5.

The Licensee shall, by the dates specified in any roll-out plan set out in Part VII install work and put into use the licensed mobile radio system.

6.

Nothing in these Regulations shall absolve a Licensee from any requirement in law to obtain any approvals, consents, Licenses, permissions and authorities that may be necessary for the discharge of the obligations or the exercise of entitlements under the Licence.

7.

It shall be a condition of the Licence that:-

ensure that the notice is complied with.

8.

A Licensee shall -

For the purposes of this subparagraph, control means the possession, directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies whether through ownership of voting rights, by contract or otherwise;

9.

(1) Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, the Licensing Regulations as applicable and any requirements under applicable national or EC law, the Licensee shall comply with any direction, requirement or notice given to him or her by or on behalf of the Director in respect of any matter which direction, requirement or notice is, in the opinion of the Director, appropriate having regard to the functions of the Director.

10.

In this Licence -

“authorised officer” means a person appointed by the Director in writing to be an authorised officer for the purpose of the Regulations;

“base station” means a station located at a fixed location which communicates either with mobile stations, or fixed mobile stations and mobile stations;

“fixed mobile station” means a station located at a fixed location which communicates with a base station and/or mobile stations;

“harmful interference” means interference which endangers the functioning of a radionavigation service or other safety services or which otherwise seriously degrades obstructs or repeatedly interrupts any lawfully operating radio-communications service;

“insolvency related event” in respect of a Licensee means any of the following:

a)

becoming insolvent or holding a meeting with or making a composition or arrangement with creditors or putting a proposal to creditors for a voluntary arrangement for a composition of debts or a scheme of arrangement or taking any preparatory steps in relation to any of the foregoing;

b)

having a receiver or similar official or other encumbrance take possession of or be appointed over or having any distress, execution or other process levied or enforced on the whole or any substantial part of the assets of the Licensee (and not discharged within 7 days);

c)

ceasing or threatening to cease to carry on business or becoming unable or being deemed to be unable to pay debts within the meaning of section 214 of the Companies Act, 1963 (No. 33 of 1963);

d)

having a petition presented or making any other form of application for bankruptcy or winding-up of the Licensee or the appointment of an examiner or similar official to the Licensee or any preparatory steps being taken in relation to any of them or convening a meeting or taking any preparatory or other steps to convene a meeting for the winding up, bankruptcy or dissolution of the Licensee (other than for the purposes of a solvent amalgamation or reconstruction); and

e)

having any event analogous to any event referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) occur under the laws under which the Licensee is incorporated;

“Licence” means a Licence under section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926 (No. 45 of 1926) for a mobile radio system or mobile radio systems as defined in the Regulations and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“Licensee” means the holder of a Licence;

“Licensing Regulations” means the European Communities (Telecommunications Licences Regulations, 1998 ( SI No. 96 of 1998 );

“licensed system” means a mobile radio system for which a Licence has been granted under the Regulations;

“mobile station” means a station intended to be used while being moved or during halts at unspecified points and includes handportable stations;

“mobile radio system” means a system using radio frequencies to provide wireless two way communication between two or more stations, at least one of which must be a mobile station and being of a type set out in Part I of the Licence.

“station” means any apparatus for wireless telegraphy capable of being used for the purposes of transmitting and/ or receiving messages by means of radiated electro-magnetic waves;

“Telecommunications Licence” means a Licence under section 111 of the Act of 1983;

“the Act of 1926” means the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926 (No. 45 of 1926);

“the Act of 1983” means the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983 (No. 24 of 1983);

“the Director” means the Director of Telecommunications Regulation appointed under the Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1996 (No. 34 of 1996);

“the Regulations” means the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile radio systems) Regulations, 2002 (S.I. No. of 2002).

PARTS

Part I Types of mobile Radio System

Part II Licensee

Part III Addresses for Notices

Part IV Description and Characteristics of Mobile Radio System

Part V Technical Conditions for Mobile Radio Systems

Part VI Loading Criteria, if applicable

Part VII Roll-out Plan, if applicable

Part VIII Licence Commencement and Termination Dates

SECOND SCHEDULE

Licence Fees for Types of Licensed Mobile Radio Systems

€625 per channel (up to 2 × 12.5 kHz) per base station on issue of the Licence, rising to €1,000 per annum thereafter.

Where a Licence is granted for a portion of a year the Licence fees to be paid by the Licensee shall be calculated as follows:

A × (B /12) = C

where A is the relevant annual Licence fee set out in this Schedule; B is the number of whole months for which the Licence is granted (if a Licence is granted for a period of less than one month then, for the purpose of these calculations only, the Licence shall be considered as a Licence granted for a period of one month); and C is the appropriate Licence fee to be paid.

GIVEN under my hand, this 28 day of August , 2002 GIVEN under my hand, this 28 day of August , 2002
[image omitted]
Etain Doyle Director of Telecommunications Regulation Etain Doyle Director of Telecommunications Regulation

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources consents to the making of the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources this 21^st day of August , 2002 GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources this 21^st day of August , 2002
[image omitted]
Dermot Ahern T.D. Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Dermot Ahern T.D. Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide for the issuing of Licences for types of mobile radio systems intended for local or on-site use, which may, if appropriate, be licensed by the Director. Where other Regulations under the Act of 1926 apply to specific radio systems, those Regulations shall be used.

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