ACMA encourages use of 900 MHz RF Identification tags

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued a high power experimental apparatus licence to GS1, the radio frequency identification (RFID) standards body (previously EAN Australia).

' The issuing of an experimental licence to gauge potential interference is a new and modern spectrum management technique,' said Lyn Maddock, Acting ACMA Chair.'

The experimental licence has been issued for the frequency range 920-926 MHz, in the 900 MHz industrial, scientific and medical band (ISM band). It will enable GS1 and ACMA to monitor the deployment of high power (4 Watt) RFID
readers and rectify problems, if any occur, with adjacent services such as Vodafone's GSM mobile telephone networks.

ACMA hopes information gathered as a result of the trials will enable the class licence under which RFID operates to be amended to accommodate the higher power.

'RFID is an important emerging technology,' said Ms Maddock. 'It allows efficient and accurate supply chain management and has the potential to offer money saving applications in a diverse range of industries, such as cattle tracking, military logistics and even monitoring use-by dates of products in home refrigerators.'

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