Cordless telephones CT1 and CT2
Operating ban on cordless telephones based on the CT1+ and CT2 standards
Year of issue 2008
Date of issue 2008.05.27
The Federal Network Agency wishes to advise that the general allocation of frequencies for CT1+ and CT2 cordless telephone systems will end on 31 December 2008. Hence, these devices may no longer be used from 1 January 2009 onwards.
Like all general allocations, this allocation for cordless telephones was fixed for a specified period from the outset. At the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), the member countries agreed to change the frequency allocations which have been harmonised throughout Europe. The frequency range for the CT1+ system (885 - 887 / 930 - 932 MHz) has now been rededicated all over Europe for use by public mobile communications services. The frequency range based on the CT2 standard (864.1 – 868.1 MHz) will in future be available for short-range radio applications.
As early as 1998, the time limit imposed in respect of the general allocation of these frequencies was coupled with the requirement imposed on manufacturers and vendors or other distributors that they refer users to the key general allocation provisions. That applied, in particular, to the time limit up to 31 December 2008.
Hence, from 1 January 2009 onwards, cordless telephones based on the CT1+ and CT2 standards must no longer be operated in the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. If, when isolating causes of interference, the Federal Network Agency’s monitoring service detects an unallocated cordless telephone that is causing interference, the party responsible will be charged for the cost of tracing the cause of the interference. This also constitutes a regulatory offence that may result in the payment of a fine.
The general allocation of the 1880 - 1900 MHz frequency range for digital cordless telephones based on the DECT standard is not affected by the above-mentioned time limit. Specifically, the general allocation of the frequency range for DECT devices is currently for a fixed period that will end in 2013 and will be continued subject to European harmonisation.
Information on the standard or frequency range used by a cordless telephone may be found in the user’s guide for the device; as a rule, the frequency range used is indicated on the device itself.
Consumer information on "cordless telephones" is available at our website.