RFID Technology

• Frequencies

RFIDs are considered to be radio emitters, and therefore must follow a set of frenquency regulations. There is no global public body that governs the frequencies used for RFID. In principle, every country can set its own rules for this. The main bodies governing frequency allocation for RFID are:

• Europe: ERO, CEPT, ETSI, and national administrations (note that the national administrations must ratify the usage of a specific frequency before it can be used in that country)
• USA: FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
• Canada: DOC (Department of Communication)
• Japan: MPHPT (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Post and Telecommunication)
• China: Ministry of Information Industry
• Australia: Australian Communications and Media Authority.
• New Zealand: Ministry of Economic Development

Low-frequency (LF: 125 - 134.2 kHz and 140 - 148.5 kHz) and high-frequency (HF: 13.56 MHz) RFID tags can be used globally without a license. Ultra-high-frequency (UHF: 868 MHz-928 MHz) cannot be used globally as there is no single global standard. In North America, UHF can be used unlicensed for 908 - 928 MHz, but restrictions exist for transmission power. In Europe, UHF can be used in the 865.6 - 867.6 MHz band. For Australia and New Zealand, 918 - 926 MHz are unlicensed, but restrictions exist for transmission power. These frequencies are known as the ISM bands (Industrial Scientific and Medical bands).