ACA – MR2404

Media release No. 24 - 1 April 2004

Use of ultra wideband approved for the first time

An application of ultra wideband (UWB) technology-a ground penetrating radar system-has been granted an interim licence by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA). This is the first time an application using UWB technology has been licensed in Australia.

ACA Acting Chairman Dr Bob Horton said the licensing arrangements were the first step in finding a place for UWB technology in the management of Australia's radiofrequency spectrum.

"Ultra wideband is a potentially beneficial technology but at this stage only applications with low potential to cause interference will be authorised under these interim arrangements," he said.

Dr Horton said the key element in the interim licensing arrangements is an interference control condition that restricts stray radiofrequency signals caused by the operation of the devices.

"This has been set below the limits set by the International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) standards for emissions from unintentional radiofrequency emitters such as computers," he said. "Further authorisation of UWB technology devices will depend on the results of extensive technical studies being conducted in various parts of the world.

"These studies are being coordinated by the radiocommunications arm of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to assess the interference potential of UWB applications."

Dr Horton said that UWB technology, as an emerging communications technique, had the potential to generate a bewildering variety of applications capable of benefiting the Australian community.

These applications included the imaging of buried objects, surveying the structural components of buildings for defects, through-wall imaging for security or law enforcement, medical imaging, sensing systems used to avoid motor vehicle collisions, and short- range, high-speed data transmission which might rival more traditional broadband cable and copper access techniques.

UWB devices work by transmitting and receiving very short duration bursts of radiofrequency energy. These pulses result in extremely wideband transmissions but at minute power levels in any particular segment of the radiocommunications frequency bands. Because these devices operate using spectrum occupied by existing radio services, there is a considerable level of international debate on their potential to cause interference.

"The challenge for radiocommunications regulators is to set appropriate technical standards so UWB devices can operate using spectrum occupied by existing radio services without causing interference. The result would be more efficient use of scarce communal spectrum resources, and it will take some lateral regulatory thinking and exploration of concepts which are presently on the drawing board both here and overseas. Radio is about to step up to a higher level of communications importance in our lives," Dr Horton said.

The Australian Communications Authority is a government regulator of telecommunications and radiocommunications