LegalNotes » History » Version 12
Anonymous, 02/19/2016 10:48 PM
| 1 | 1 | laforge | |
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| 2 | 12 | laforge | h2. Licensed GSM Spectrum |
| 3 | 1 | laforge | |
| 4 | |||
| 5 | 12 | laforge | GSM operates in *licensed frequency spectrum*, i.e. the license to operate equipment on the GSM bands is granted (typically sold/auctioned) to commercial entities. |
| 6 | |||
| 7 | This is _very different_ from technologies like Bluetooth or [[WiFi]] operating in the 2.4GHz unlicensed ISM band. |
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| 8 | |||
| 9 | As a result, you cannot operate any GSM RF equipment (like the [[BS11|BS-11]] or any other BTS) unless you have obtained |
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| 10 | 5 | laforge | a proper license from the regulatory authority in your country. Accomplishing to operate a BTS without having such a license is subject to punishment according to the respective laws in your country. |
| 11 | 1 | laforge | |
| 12 | Apart from the legal aspects, there also are practical aspects. If you operate on a channel (ARFCN) that is already used by a GSM operator, |
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| 13 | 12 | laforge | you will likely create interference with the production network. *Please don't do this!* It is illegal and disruptive, and not |
| 14 | 1 | laforge | related to what this project is trying to achieve. |
| 15 | |||
| 16 | Interfering with a public telecommunications network, intentionally or unintentionally, is a crime in most countries and punishable under applicable law! |
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| 18 | 10 | laforge | |
| 19 | 12 | laforge | h3. Regulatory authorities for GSM licensing |
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| 22 | 1 | laforge | * Austria http://www.rtr.at |
| 23 | 4 | laforge | |
| 24 | 8 | tnt | * Belgium http://ibpt.be/ |
| 25 | |||
| 26 | For testing, the authorization category 1b and 6 are relevant. The GSM900 band is fully licensed to commercial operators, so only ARFCN in the 1800 band will be allocated. |
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| 27 | |||
| 28 | 4 | laforge | * Germany: http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/ |
| 29 | 7 | laforge | |
| 30 | 1 | laforge | * Netherlands: http://www.agentschap-telecom.nl/ |
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| 32 | * Sweden: http://www.pts.se/en-gb/ |
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| 33 | |||
| 34 | * Switzerland: http://www.bakom.admin.ch/ |
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| 35 | |||
| 36 | * United Kingdom: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |
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| 38 | 9 | laforge | |
| 39 | 12 | laforge | h2. GSM Related Patents |
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| 41 | |||
| 42 | [[OpenBSC]] is Open Source software for research purpose, not a product that is used commercially. The development is done by volunteers who want to learn more about GSM |
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| 43 | 9 | laforge | and who want to encourage others to experiment with it. |
| 44 | |||
| 45 | 12 | laforge | As such, [[OpenBSC]] does not come with patent licenses of any sort. It is well known that mobile telephony and GSM specifically is a patent minefield. Some of those patents |
| 46 | relating to voice codecs and the Um air interface are already licensed by the BTS manufacturer. Other patents might apply directly to what [[OpenBSC]] is doing. |
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| 47 | 9 | laforge | |
| 48 | 12 | laforge | If you are using [[OpenBSC]] in a commercial setting, it is your responsibility to properly license all applicable patents from their respective holders. The ETSI maintains |
| 49 | a list of _essential patents_ that apply to GSM. |
