Executive Brief

Ultra Wide Band is a wireless technology developed to transmit large amounts of data over very short distances, typically less than 15 metres. With bandwidths of more than 500 MHz, the capacity of UWB devices greatly exceeds that of conventional radio transmitters. UWB devices operate at very low power levels, enabling them, in theory, to share spectrum with traditionally licensed services over a wide range of frequencies without adverse impact to those services.

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 UWB applications considered in this engineering discussion paper are:

• UWB communication devices,
• UWB imaging systems, and
• UWB vehicular radar.

The uptake of UWB technologies is expected to encourage the development of innovative products and widen consumer choice in the radiocommunications market. UWB is well supported by improvements in silicon technology and has many potential low power, low cost, miniature applications.

The biggest risk of licensing UWB devices is their potential to interfere with existing licensed services such as public safety services and commercial services.

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

Submissions close on 8 May 2005.