Access key 0 - Accessibility, Access key 2 - Jump to content, Access key 7 - Jump to navigation
Skip To Content | Skip To Navigation
 

Home > Spectrum > Information for Radiocomms Licences > Guidelines on using your licence > Ultra Wide Band guidance > UWB activities update


Ultra Wide Band Activities Update

February 2004

Executive summary

Ofcom (in whom the duties of the Radiocommunications Agency were vested at the end of 2003) is continuing to gather evidence on the advantages and disadvantages of Ultra Wide Band (UWB), and is participating in the work of CEPT and ETSI within Europe as well as ITU-R in the International arena. We have also initiated several independent studies and are also gathering comments from interested parties. Until all the results of the studies have been evaluated, UWB operational systems will not be permitted for use in the UK.

Applications for trial and/or development licences will be considered, and where possible allowed, for general UWB applications within the band 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. The applications are restricted for non-operational purposes only and are closely scrutinised. Restrictions may be placed in licences in order to protect existing services.

Within Europe, CEPT are studying the compatibility issue for general UWB devices operating within the band 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. Until these studies are completed then no proposal is expected regarding the harmonised use within Europe. The studies are expected to be completed towards the end of 2004.

Within the US the FCC has issued rules for the use of UWB services and these were amended in February 2003.

24 GHz Short Range Radar
The ECC (Electronic Communications Committee) has published a report (ECC 023) on the coexistence with other services of short range automotive radar operating in the band 21.5 to 26.5 GHz. The report has identified a number of areas of concern regarding sharing with other existing authorised radio services.

A number of CEPT Administrations have expressed concern about the proposal to allow SRR in the 24 GHz band on a temporary basis, pending the development of technology for use in a "permanent " band at 77-81 GHz.. Ofcom currently cannot support the use of 21.5 to 26.5 GHz for the use of Short Range Radar and is consulting other Government Departments for an official UK view.

The SRD/MG (Short Range Devices Maintenance Group) have drafted a response to a Mandate from the European Commission, on behalf of CEPT. The response includes two draft Decisions, one allowing permanent use of short range automotive radar in the frequency band 77 to 81 GHz and the other proposing temporary use of the 21.5 to 26.5 GHz band.

Introduction

Ultra wide band (UWB) spreads energy instantaneously across a very wide bandwidth due to the very fast pulsing of the signal. Information can be conveyed by altering the position, amplitude or phase of the pulses. For these systems, the rise and fall times, pulse repetition frequency, bandwidth of the antenna and any antenna filtering determine where the majority of the energy of the signal falls. Some systems, such as short range vehicle radar (SRR), the UWB signal is superimposed onto an RF carrier which is then radiated at a higher frequency.

Other techniques are also being developed such as frequency hopping or OFDM schemes with wide bandwidths operating across a wide range of frequencies.

Although the principles behind UWB have been known for over 60 years, it was only in the late 1990's that practical chipsets at affordable cost began emerging from the USA. Since then a number of manufacturers have shown an interest in the technology for high speed data transfer, through the wall imaging and other similar applications.

FCC
In February 2002, the FCC announced interim rules for the use of UWB(-1-). This ruling was a result of several years of study and public consultation.

In February 2003, the FCC amended the rules for UWB applications(-2-).

International Activities

Europe

Electronic Communication Committee ECC(-3-)
The ECC, which is part of CEPT(-4-), is reviewing and studying the issue of UWB within the three main Working Groups (WG), Frequency Management (FM), Regulatory Affairs (RA) and Spectrum Engineering (SE).

The Short Range Device Maintenance Group (SRD/MG), which reports to WG FM, is co-ordinating the work and is tasked to make recommendations to ECC via WGFM regarding the potential harmonised use of UWB within Europe, taking into account the ruling by the FCC and any work undertaken by Administrations in other areas.

The SRD/MG have already run two workshops(-5-) on UWB, which were hosted by BAPT in Mainz, Germany.

The SRD/MG has developed a draft Decision to allow the use of the frequency band 77 to 81 GHz for the use of SRR. This band is adjacent to the band that is currently allowed for Long Range Radars, 76 to 77 GHz.

WG SE project team (PT) 24 is responsible for compatibility and coexistence studies relating to short range device applications in general. The SE PT 24 has completed report ECC 023(-6-) on coexistence of short range automotive radar operating in the frequency range 21.5 to 26.5 GHz with other radio services in the band. Due to the limited time available, only Fixed Links and the passive services; Radio Astronomy and Earth Exploration Satellite Service have been considered. This report, once finalised should be available from the ECC web site. (-7-)

However, it should be noted that a reservation was placed on this report by the UK due to concerns relating to the sharing analysis conclusions not providing sufficient protection for the fixed services.

SE PT 24 is also studying generic UWB operating in the band 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, and also the impact on radio services in adjacent bands. This study has taken longer than anticipated and is unlikely to be completed until the end of 2004.

ETSI(-8-)
ERM(-9-) Task Group 31 is tasked to develop standards and where applicable System Reference Documents, for UWB applications.

TG 31A, is developing a standard for generic UWB in the band 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, a separate standard for ground probing radar and a further standard for measuring levels in vessels, tanks, etc.

TG 31B has the task to develop a standard for short range automotive radar.

ITU-R(-10-)
The ITU-R Study Group 1 have set-up a task group, TG 1/8, to co-ordinate the UWB issues within the various other ITU-R Study Groups and consider the various input documents relating to UWB and its impact on other radio services.
TG 1/8 is split into 4 study areas:

Work from WG SE PT 24 has also been submitted to TG1/8.

Ofcom has a UK briefing group which interested parties from Industry and other Government Departments can attend. For further details see below.

IEEE(-11-)
The IEEE 802.15 has started a programme to develop a standard for a wireless LAN based on UWB technologies

Ofcom (formerly the Radiocommunications Agency)

The Radiocommunications Agency (RA), one of the organisations replaced by Ofcom on 29 December 2003, became involved in UWB in the late 1990's when it was approached by one of the leading US UWB chipset manufacturers. Since the initial contact the company had given presentations to RA Staff and RA sponsored Committees, such as SMAG(-12-). The Company also provided RA's research facility, RTCG(-13-), with UWB signal sources in order that various compatibility and coexistence testing can be carried out. The results of the work of RTCG have been fed into the work of WG SE PT 24 and also to ETSI ERM TG 31.

RA also initiated a number of research projects with external independent organisations, including Aegis(-14-) (-15-), Mason Communications(-16-) and Multiple Access Communications Ltd (-17-).

In July 2002, the RA ran a colloquium in association with the IEE (-18-).

An internal RA committee was set-up to co-ordinate its activities and develop policy on UWB. It has also set-up a UK briefing group for ITU-R TG1/8 which is open to other government departments and other bodies with an interest in UWB or the possible impact of UWB on other radio services. If you have an interest in this group and wish to attend or receive papers, please contact the Secretary of the group.(-19-)

Ofcom staff are now actively participating or monitoring the activities of all the national and international groups indicated above. Until the studies are complete and recommendations have been made, Ofcom will not make a final decision on the use of UWB within the UK. Various organisations have also made their views known to Ofcom and these will also be taken into account.

Some applications of UWB:

According to the ITU Radio Regulations the band 23.6 to 24.0 GHz is a passive band (used for radio astronomy and earth exploration satellite service) and is covered by footnote 5.340(-21-) which states "All emissions are prohibited" in the stated bands, which includes 23.6 to 24 GHz.

The second concern relates to the protection of the Fixed Link service operating above and below 24 GHz. An independent study commissioned by Ofcom (as RA) indicated that there is a potential risk of interference to the Fixed Link assignments, under certain conditions, therefore again Ofcom does not support the use of short range automotive radar in the bands used for fixed links.

The radio amateur service also has an allocation in the 24 GHz band for which compatibility has yet to be studied.

In addition to the above, the police also have an allocation around 24GHz which is used for speed meter cameras and speed guns. Before the short range automotive radar could be permitted in this band, the automotive radar manufacturers are required to demonstrate that there is no risk of interference to the speed radars which could bring the evidence and hence convictions into question.

Footnotes:

1. In the matter of Revision of Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Ultra-Wideband Transmission Systems ET Docket 98-153 FIRST REPORT AND ORDER Adopted: February 14, 2002 Released: April 22, 2002 (http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Orders/2002/fcc02048.pdf)

2. - In the matter of Revision of Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Ultra-Wideband Transmission Systems. ET Docket No. 98-153 Memorandum Opinion and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making. Adopted: February 13, 2003: Released: March 12, 2003 (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-33A1.doc)

3. - Formerly the European Radiocommuication Committee and European Telecommunications Committee

4. - Conference of European Post and Telecommunications

5. - http://www.ero.dk/EROWEB/SRD/SRD-UWB.htm

6. - ECC Report 023 "Compatibility of automotive collision warning Short Range Radar operating at 24 GHz with FS, EESS and Radio Astronomy"

7. - http://ww.ero.dk

8. - European Telecommunications Standards Institute

9. - Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters

10. - International Telecommunications Union-Radiocommunications

11. - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc

12. - Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/smag/index.htm)

13. - Radio Technology and Compatibility Group

14. - Ultra Wide Band (UWB) compatibility (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/research/topics/emc/uwb_compatibility-final.doc)

15. - 24 GHz compatibility study with Fixed Links (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/fixedlnk/publictns/reports/finalrep.zip)

16. - Impact of UWB on Third-Generation Telecommunications (3G) Final Report (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/research/topics/uwb/3gfinalreport.zip)

17. - Initial study to carry out an investigation into the potential impact of Ultra-WideBand (UWB) transmission systems (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/research/topics/s-studies/ultrwide/ultrwide.htm)

18. - ULTRA WIDE BAND (UWB) COLLOQUIUM - Tuesday 23 July 2002 (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/uwb/uwb-index.htm)

19. - E-mail: george.pritchard@ofcom.org.uk or Telephone No: 020 7783 4117

20. - eurogpr@assocnbureau.demon.co.uk or www.eurogpr.co.uk

21. - ITU Radio Regulations


Back to top Back to top


Further information

Help

Keep up-to-date