New Frequency Allocations for Licence Exempt Low Power Devices Announced

30 September 1998

New and extended frequency allocations for Low Power Devices which are exempt from licensing are announced today by the Radiocommunications Agency.

The current frequency allocation of 433.72 - 434.12MHz will be extended to 433.05 - 434.79MHz and the restriction of its use for Vehicle Radio Activated Key Entry Systems will be relaxed to accommodate General Telemetry and Tele-command applications. Audio speech or music is not permitted in this band. As recommended in the CEPT/ERC Recommendation 70-03 Equipment will be required to be Type Approved to the ETSI Specification EN 300 220-1.

Manufacturers will be required to make it clear to potential customers that equipment may suffer interference from other legal users of this band, such as the Radio Amateurs and will not be protected from such interference. The onus will be on the manufacturer to produce equipment to an adequate standard.

The current frequency allocation of 863.00 - 864.00MHz for Cordless Audio Equipment will be extended to 865.00MHz. Equipment will be required to be Type Approved to the ETSI Specification EN 300 220-1 until ETSI publish a suitable product standard.

A new frequency allocation of 868.00 – 870.00MHZ has been opened for General Telemetry and Telecommand applications. Equipment - 11 be required to be Type Approved to the ETSI Specification EN 300 220-1. The band is split up into sub-bands and the maximum radiated power permitted is dependant on the relevant sub-band. The Radiocommunications Agency 1ntormation sheet RA114 Annex 3 provides a summary of this information.

The current frequency allocation of 2.400 - 2.483GHz will be opened to permit General Telemetry and Telecommand applications including Visual Image Transmission Equipment. Required to be Type Approved to the ETSI Specification I-ETS 300 440. For Visual Image Transmission Equipment the maximum bandwidth permitted will be 20 MHz. (The band will be shared with other applications including Local Area Networks utilising Spread Spectrum Techniques. This specification is unchanged - ETS 300 328.)

The Licence Exemption Statutory Instrument will be amended later this year. In the meantime Users may operate type approved equipment which complies with the relevant standard in the appropriate frequency band as described above. Users are invited to apply for a licence from the Technology Sectors Unit - Low Power Section, which will be issued free of charge until the New Statutory Instruments in place.

Summary of New Low Power Licence Exempt Frequencies

The new and extended frequency allocations harmonise UK use with Europe and apply from 31 August 1998. For further information please contact The Radiocommunications Agency, Technology Sectors Unit - Low Power Section. Tel. 020-7211-0153.

Notes for the Editors

1. The potential of short range devices to cause interference to other radio users is minimal, provided that they operate under the correct technical conditions. [n keeping with the Government's general policy of deregulation and reducing unnecessary burdens on business, the Agency has removed the need for most devices to be licensed under Section I of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. The Agency has progressively exempted various short range devices from licensing over the last few years. Details of the exemption regulations are contained in Statutory Instruments (SI) titled "The Wireless Telegraphy (Short Range Devices) (Exemption) Regulations". This provides a more liberal regulatory regime for users, manufacturers and suppliers. Users will no longer have to pay fees or complete licence application forms, manufacturers and suppliers can now market type approved products in a less regulated environment.

2. It is necessary for radio devices to be tested and type approved to the appropriate performance specification for the type of application and operational frequencies for which the devices are intended to be used. It is important that devices meet and are maintained to the relevant technical specification, since interference to other radio systems is much less likely to occur! and users should receive a better quality of service. An information sheet RA 207 details the type approval procedure.

3. ETSI is the European standards making body which drafts and publishes European Telecommunications Standards (ETS) or Interim Standards known as I-ETS. To align with recognised procedures for European Standards, ETS's will be replaced by ENs (European Standard) and I-ETS's will be replaced by ES's (ETSI Standards). This change should also reflect the way EN g and ES's are approved within ETSI and should result in a faster adoption process. Information Sheet, RA 168 gives further information on the role and procedures of ETSI.

The use and installation of non-type approved devices is an offence under Section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. It is also an offence to possess or to have in your control such a device with intent to use it, or knowing that another person is likely to use it, contrary to Section 1 of the 1949 Act. The maximum penalty for each of these offences is a £5000 fine and /or 6 months imprisonment on summary conviction, or an unlimited fine Sand/or two years imprisonment, on conviction on indictment The Courts may also order forfeiture of any wireless telegraphy apparatus or any other apparatus, vehicle, vessel or aircraft used in the commission of the offence.

Press Enquires: 020-7215 5347

Public Enquires: 020-72110211

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