A Strategy for the Future Use of the Radio Spectrum in the UK Second Edition May 1996 - Other Services

9.1 Low Power Devices

This is a general term which is applied to various radio devices operating at low power levels and over short ranges. Such devices are not confined to one particular sector but can be found in most areas of radiocommunications. The Agency recognises the continuing growth and importance of lower power devices in a whole range of domestic and industrial applications. These include alarms, telemetry and telecommand, radio microphones, spread spectrum Radio Local Area Networks (RLANs) model control, radio hearing aids, metal detectors, and anti-theft devices, with maximum powers ranging up to 1 Watt at VHF/UHF, as well as certain microwave/doppler devices with maximum powers of up to 5 Watts. Many of these devices currently operate in frequency bands shared with other services, usually on a non-protected and non-interference basis; any safety factors in the use of these devices being at the risk of the user. More active management, co-ordination and planning of the low power devices spectrum will be needed as it continues to grow in importance, together with increased emphasis on promoting harmonisation within Europe. The Agency will continue to develop its relationship with the Low Power Radio Association and industry to help it achieve these objectives.

The Agency has already exempted most low power devices from licensing. The Radar Level Gauge service will be exempted from licensing in 1996 and tagging devices operating at power levels between 100 mW and 500 mW will be exempted as soon as it is feasible to do so. New services for wireless video links at 1300 MHz and for voice channels at 173 MHz are to be introduced in 1996. The Agency intends that both these services will be licence exempt. Several proposals in the Detailed Spectrum Investigation Phase II report issued by the European Radio Committee would have implications for the spectrum available for low power services. In particular, the proposal to introduce a general harmonised band for low power at 403 - 404 MHz to eventually replace 433 MHz would affect a large number of manufacturers and users. The Agency will need to take a decision on how best to proceed when the European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC) publishes its final position at the end of 1996.

The Agency continues to take an active role in drawing up European harmonised low power standards and participates in the various project teams and working groups formulating future policy for low power spectrum. The Interim European Telecommunications Standard covering low power systems between 1 and 25 GHz (I-ETS 300 440) was published by ETSI in December 1995. It is intended to update I-ETS generic standards from interim to full ETS and work on upgrading I-300-220 is due to be completed in October 1996.

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