UWB is approved... but wait for it

Ofcom confirms go-ahead for ultrafast wireless in the UK but legislation must change

Regulator Ofcom has confirmed that ultrawideband (UWB) technology offering ultrafast short-range wireless links has been approved for use in Britain – but not yet.

The Ofcom-backed decision by the EC's Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC) just before Christmas can come into effect in Britain only through new legislation or modification of existing legislation by parliament.

Unsure how long this would take, an Ofcom spokeswoman said: "I'm not sure whether we have even begun the process."

The RSC ruling allows UWB to operate between 3.1-10.6GHz in the US, 6-10GHz in Britain, and 7-10GHz in Japan.

Belkin says a UWB-based wireless USB hub and dongle using the technology could be on the shelves as soon as March if the technology were approved.

The dongle plugs into a PC's USB 2.0 and connects with the four-port hub wirelessly at up to 480Mbit/sec. The pair together have a US price of $129.99 (£67). UWB has been approved for use in the US for two years.

Comment: UWB could reduce anti-social use of Wifi - when MPs get round to it