U.K. Regulator Examines How to Block UWB Interference
U.S. promoters of ultra wideband (UWB) are closely watching developments in the U.K., as regulators there complete work on rules governing the technology. Controls the U.K. establishes could prove significant since UWB chip makers are likely to pursue rollout of products worldwide that will meet limits in as much of the world as possible.
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The key recommendation by U.K. regulator Ofcom is that UWB be forced to operate under a fairly significant mask outside the core UWB bands of 3.1-10 GHz. “Ofcom’s proposal is that if UWB is allowed, it should be limited to the same in-band power levels as permitted in the U.S. but with tighter out-of-band limits,” the office said. “Such a mask should, in Ofcom’s view, protect key services while maximizing consumer benefits.”
Ofcom asked for comments on its proposed regulations by March 24. The regulator specifically said it doesn’t believe U.S. regulations are sufficient to guard against interference. U.S. companies are expected to weigh in.
“If we do not form a position soon then it is possible that UWB devices conforming to the U.S. specification will be imported illegally into the U.K., e.g. in electronic devices purchased over the Internet,” Ofcom said. “It would be extremely difficult to detect and halt this process since it is typically not possible to detect a UWB device outside of the room in which it is transmitting.”
The Ofcom investigation showed that other nations are likely to impose more significant restrictions on UWB than the U.S., said a source who has concerns about UWB. The FCC under Chmn. Powell has promoted UWB -- much to the concern of those in Europe and elsewhere concerned about protecting current spectrum incumbents. A number of nations, including the U.K., have expressed their concerns in various papers as the ITU develops a UWB policy.
“The big picture is that what the U.S. has done is going to be the minimum protection levels of any administration,” said a lawyer who has been active on UWB issues: “The other administrations seem to be more concerned about protecting the sensitive services, certainly below 3.1 GHz.” The source said the U.S. developments are viewed as significant by U.S. chip makers. “What will probably happen is that everyone who is going to be building chips will be building to the most conservative mask,” the source said: “Everyone who is manufacturing this is going to want to manufacture equipment that can work anywhere in the world.”
“The U.K. investigation is important because companies want to manufacture something that can be used here and in the rest of the world,” the source said: “The question will be which manufacturers can produce a chip that can be used everywhere.”