Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services. has released 865 MHz to 868 MHz for RFID from licensing requirements.  Previously, individual licenses were required to allow companies to operate RFID readers in these frequencies.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) approved the band for RFID use last year ago (ETSI 302-208). The European Conference of Communications and Postal Administration that is recommending this band be made available for use by RFID across the Continent.

According to the Ofcom report, wide use of RFID for tracking applications will save U.K. businesses £100 to £200 million over ten years.

The Ofcom official statement (and a link to its full recommendation) is available at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/wireless865_868/865_868statement/

Regulations are still more restrictive than those allowed in the U.S., with a limit of two watts of power and only a three MHz band within which to operate (versus a 26 MHz band in the U.S.). Many experts believe that more power and bandwidth will be required for RFID to become equally useful in all parts of the world.

While the U.K. announcement is significant, there is a broader quesiton of the impact of EN 302-208 and specifically "Listen Before Talk."  This European Standard (Norm) covers the RFID in the 865 -868 MHz band.

Future issues of "RFID Connections" will carry interviews with industry experts from the U.S. and Europe on this topic.