The Ministry of Economic Development will create a General User Licence (GUL) regime, along the lines of that used in Europe, for the allocation of ultra wide band (UWB) spectrum, it announced today.
UWB applications include: high-speed wireless networking in the workplace or at home, enabling the wireless connection of laptops to the office LAN; wireless data streaming from a camcorder to the hard drive of a PC; and wireless connections between stereo-systems, DVD players, computers, displays and loud speakers, the MED says. Other applications include the high-precision location of moving or stationary items, in real time, including tracking players in sports stadiums, tagging cattle and locating goods in warehouses. "These licensing arrangements will enable New Zealand firms to reap the benefits of new and innovative solutions using this new technology as early as possible, while minimising its risks to existing services," the MED says. The ministry's UWB report is here.