GS1 in charge of the license in Australia: During the Impetus 2005 conference in Melbourne in July 2005, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) awarded GS1 Australia an experimental license that raised the allowable radiated power of RFID UHF readers to 4 watts.
GS1 Australia (formerly known as EAN Australia) is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for the local development of RFID standards.
The license concerns the 920-926 MHz segment for RFID readers or interrogators. Not only GS1 Australia is now in charge of regulating and monitoring any interference with existing RF services (eg Vodafone’s 900 MHz GSM network) but most importantly it is responsible for granting authorisation to individual sites to operate under its license.
GS1 Australia is the first GS1 International subsidiary who has been given such a responsibility. However this licence has been awarded on a temporary basis, running until 12 July 2006. The possibility of extending this for a further year remains if needed. GS1 is keeping a database of each company and site that has been granted permission to use 4-watt readers. This database will be used to help show whether or not readers interfere with other types of nearby radio devices.
Next steps:
ACMA could issue a full class license for 4-watt readers operating at 920-926 MHz in 2007.
The next issue for GS1 will be data synchronisation, allowing information to be shared on a common base catalogue and described to other parties on a supply chain.
Application for the authorisation to operate under GS1 4 watt licence can be made on GS1 website,
click here for direct access.
Friday 14th July 2006.
