Is operations in the 2.4 GHz ISM?band coming to an end in Europe?

Update 2024-06-02

Changes have been postponed to this environment have been posponed, however, it is likely that the cureent direction will not change implying long term changes to the resiliance of small receivers.

For a some time I have watched with horror and concern as the European Union has launched actions towards opening up the frequency bands above and below the 2.4 GHz band probably for mobile operators. This would make it very hard to impossible for technologies such as Bluetooth and WiFi to operate anymore. This frequency band is essential to billions of small devices world wide and many companies/workplaces depend on the availability of this spectrum.

Why are the regulators doing this? We do not know. One driving force seems to be OFCOM?in the UK. I guess the OFCOM has been told by a cash-strapped government to sell off any frequency band left regardless of consequences and disregards the fact that they could all end up in a landfill. Some of the devices are medical devices.

Another driver is the limitless appetite of the mobile industry to consume more spectrum. More and more data needs to be transmitted but there seems to be little consideration of the small resilient devices operating in the 2.4 GHz band since it was opened up. There are countless business and companies relying on this small piece of accessible spectrum for business and operations. This year approx. 5 billion Bluetooth devices will he sold globally. I think we can all agree that we do not need more cell phones - we need less of them.

Travelling is easy with devices in the 2.4 GHz band because regardless of place you can trust the devices working. That may not hold in the future as when you land in Europe your device may be unable to connect because the frequency band is so noisy. This kind of regulatory divergence is difficult.

Having high powered transmitters adjacent to the 2.4 GHz band will leak energy into the band and make life hard for small battery operated devices. It is like being in a disco at 110 dB: It is very difficult to speak and be heard.

The technical solution proposed is a steep filter on the receiver antenna. Such a filter is large (the device would become larger), increases power consumption and it would desensitize the receiver also reducing range. Last but not least: It is also expensive to add for manufacturers, if at all physically possible.

There is a process and right now we are at stage 1

1. ECC?has published a report 356 and is requesting comments on the matter 24(01). This is a public consultation so anybody can comment on drafts and methodology. However, you should be somebody with a vested interest.
2. In the second stage ETSI?would be tasked to update relevant standards.

What can you do? You can file a response to the ECC before next Monday. You could also call up your country representatives and tell them about the harm this will cause.

I would also like to?give you an alternative scenario:?Let's open up more spectrum for small devices so they can more easily operate. This would create a lot more new business and workplaces instead of benefitting a few large global companies.

Let's hope the regulators have a change of mind.