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Executive summary

1.1 This is a consultation on increasing the power levels below which devices will be exempt from licensing in the frequency bands above 10GHz.

1.2 In the Licence Exempt Framework Review published in 2007, we put forward a number of suggestions to better manage the radio spectrum used by licence-exempt devices. These included the introduction of politeness protocols, opening higher frequency bands for licence-exempt usage and increasing the limit set by UWB regulations for very low power licence-exempt devices at higher frequencies. We said that we would issue further consultations in each of these areas, with associated impact assessments, where relevant.

1.3 Since then we have issued consultations in many of these areas. This document forms the consultation into the setting of low power licence-exempt limits.

1.4 Subject to a recent EC decision, ultra-wideband (UWB) transmissions at power spectral densities below specific limits, are exempt from licensing and may operate on a non-interference, non-protected basis.

1.5 It is logical to conclude that any device that transmits at a power spectral density which is lower than the UWB limits would, at worst, cause as much interference as a UWB device. Consequently, it follows that any such transmitter, irrespective of its bandwidth, would be a likely candidate for licence-exemption. However, the UWB limits were only given detailed consideration up to 10.6GHz and simply extended at the same level above 10.6GHz.

1.6 We further note that the path loss experienced by radio waves grows as a function of frequency. In fact, ignoring atmospheric absorption effects, the free-space radio link-budget deteriorates with the square of frequency for a specific receiver antenna gain. This implies that a high-frequency high-power transmitter will generate the same amount of co-channel interference as a low-frequency low-power transmitter.

1.7 Based on the above arguments, we believe that the UWB limits above 10GHz could be increased without causing harmful interference. We propose that such limits could be equivalent to the UWB limits (including all operational constraints), extrapolated appropriately for frequencies above 10.6 GHz to account for increased path loss with frequency.

1.8 We anticipate such limits would not have a significant impact on existing users of spectrum but might encourage industrial research and development and bring benefits to consumers and citizens through increased competition in the provision of new and innovative radio communication goods and services.

The full document is available below

• Low power licence-exemption limits above 10GHz [pdf]
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