Studies of transmission coefficient and conductivity of p-Si in the millimetric and far infrared ranges (2.5cm-1-400cm-1) allow the mean momentum relaxation-time of the semi-conductor to be determined without previous knowledge of hole concentration and effective masses. At high frequencies (70-400 cm-1), the experimental spectrum σ(ω) shows an increase in conductivity in addition to the one due to free-carrier relaxation mechanisms, It is caused by interband transitions between heavy holes, light holes and split-off bands. © 1978.