Commission decides to harmonize radio spectrum for #InternetOfThings

The European Commission has adopted an Implementing Decision to harmonise the radio spectrum for use by short-range devices in 874-876 and 915-921 MHz bands. This decision will facilitate a variety of applications in support of the Internet of Things like smart cities, smart homes, smart farming and smart transport systems. For businesses, for instance, it will support advanced radio-frequency identification technology helping factories in their inventory management of raw materials to save time. The decision to harmonize radio spectrum provides a long-term strategy to counterbalance fragmentation in these bands across Europe. Until now, member states used these bands for different purposes such as short-range devices or railway communications. Radio spectrum waves are the basis forWi-Fi, mobile phones and other wireless communication devices. The decision follows a positive opinion by the member states in the Radio Spectrum Committee, which is chaired by the Commission.In the future, once the new EU Communications Code will enter into force, radio spectrum will be assigned and co-ordinated even better at EU level than at the moment so that Europe can become a leader in the roll-out of 5G networks. This Decision complements other spectrum initiatives related to 5G, which are ongoing in other frequency bands (namely 700 MHz, 3.6 GHz and 26 GHz) and foresee further availability of spectrum by 2020. More information on today's decision, the EU spectrum policy frameworkand an overview of Spectrum in the EU is available online. A factsheet on spectrum is available here. 

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