1. Introduction

Planning the allocation of the radio spectrum and ensuring that it is optimally utilised is a responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Development (the Ministry). Traditionally, use of the radio spectrum has been granted to individual users through radio licences and spectrum licences. Increasingly, the Ministry has also granted access to selected frequency bands through the assignment of General User Licences (GULs), which allow the spectrum to be shared by many users, who need not pay any fees. GULs promote innovation in new technology that benefits consumers and businesses and promotes the efficient utilisation of the radio spectrum. These licences are particularly suited to portable ubiquitous devices such as wireless local area networks (WLAN) and garage door openers. Ultra wide band (UWB) is an emerging technology that could potentially challenge current paradigms for the allocation and use of the radio spectrum.

A potential application of UWB is for high-speed wireless networking in the workplace or at home. Other applications include ground penetrating radar for geological surveys and search and rescue, wall penetrating imaging in construction, vehicular radar for collision avoidance, medical imaging, and hand-held communication and measurement systems.

The Ministry needs to strike a balance between encouraging new technologies such as UWB and safeguarding existing services from harmful interference. Inaction is likely to have an economic cost by preventing New Zealand companies from taking advantage of new and innovative technologies. There is also an increased risk of non-compliant UWB devices being imported illegally into New Zealand, which could result in interference to existing spectrum users.

This paper discusses appropriate technical standards and possible spectrum allocation options for UWB in New Zealand. It considers a range of issues for industry and other stakeholders to comment on.

The Ministry anticipates that with the future development and proliferation of UWB devices in New Zealand and worldwide, further reviews of spectrum allocations and underlying technical parameters for UWB will be necessary.