4 Watt Licence Program
ACMA's 4 Watt ruling a win for EPC RFID
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ruled that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices with up to 4 Watt of power may now be used in Australia in the 920-926 MHz band. The copy the new legislative amendment can be found in Commonwealth Legislative Instrument under Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence Variation Notice 2008 (No. 1).
Download press release here. [16 January 2009]
UHF RFID 4 Watt – Installation Guideline Document
In consultation with ACMA (Australian Communication and Media Authority), Vodafone and the RFID Industry, GS1 Australia has developed the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) 4 Watt installation guidelines document. This document is intended to act as a reference framework for the end users and solution providers to safely configure and install RFID equipment above 1 Watt. This document provides a step-by-step best practice approach that needs to be followed before deploying any RFID equipment above 1W. Fair usage of radio frequency spectrum is critical for the mutual operation of RF (Radio Frequency) devices including cell phones, RFID, SRD (Short Range radio Devices) and others which are governed by ACMA throughout Australia. Please refer to ACMA website on the Australia Governments’ RF spectrum polices and licenses.
Click here for a copy of the installation guideline document.
Background
Australian RFID services are governed by ACMA through the Low Interference Potential Devices (LIPD) class licence.
Current regulations limit RFID services in the 900 MHz band to operate between 918 and 926 MHz at a maximum power of 1 Watt equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP). This means that no license is required to use RFID up to 1 Watt RF power.
From 12th July 2005 to 11th July 2008, any RFID devices operating between 1 Watt and 4 Watt of RF power could operate in Australia under a Third Party scientific licence obtained from GS1 Australia.
Operation of RFID readers up to 4 Watts is permitted in most of the regulatory regions of the world, and provides for economical, robust RFID performance. Both 1 Watt and up to 4 Watt RFID readers have been used by GS1 Australia in various RFID pilots; with 1 Watt suitable for shorter range applications, such as hand held devices, and up to 4 Watt more suited to RFID gateways or other applications where accurate reads at a distance are needed.
GS1 Australia along, with many other leading industry associations and organisations, is working with the ACMA for an amendment to the LIPD class licence to permanently allow UHF RFID services to operate at up to 4 Watt in the 920 to 926 MHz band.
Should you have any further enquiries, please contact Praveen Kannan.
E: praveen.kannan@gs1au.org
P: 03 9550 3402
Global UHF RFID Regulation
Click here to find the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band authorized in the country, the power level, the communication technique, a brief comment and the contact details of the national body responsible for regulations.
