RADIO-ELECTRIC SPECTRUM : WIRELESS RADIO FREQUENCIES TO BE HARMONISED.

• Position: Brief article

Frequency bands used by everyday wireless devices such as garage door openers, wireless alarms, baby monitors, head phones and microphones will soon be harmonised throughout Europe as a result of two recent decisions taken by the European Commission. Radio frequencies for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices will also be harmonised.These electronic tags are increasingly used in businesses such as retail and logistics, tracking of goods and persons, security and alarm systems, etc. The plan now is to extend the scope as and whenew devices are perfected and put on the market.

In concrete terms, this means that short-range wireless devices, often portable mass-market products, can be operated without a licence in all member states. Consumers will no longer have to check whether specific wireless equipment can be used...