Use of radio frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum is regulated by governments in most
countries, in a Spectrum management process known as frequency allocation or spectrum
allocation. Radio propagation does not stop at national boundaries. Giving technical and
economic reasons, governments have sought to harmonise the allocation of RF bands and
their standardization. A number standards bodies work on standards
for frequency allocation, including: International Telecommunication Union
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations
Inter-American Telecommunication Commission These standards bodies have assigned frequency
bands in three types of allocation: No one may transmit: frequencies reserved
for radio astronomy to avoid interference at radio telescopes
Anyone may transmit, as long as they respect certain transmission power and other limits:
open spectrum bands such as the unlicensed ISM bands and the unlicensed ultra-wideband
band. Only the licensed user of that band may transmit:
the licensing body may give the same frequency or band to several users as a form of frequency
reuse if they cannot interfere because their coverage map areas never overlap. Amateur
radio frequency allocations also devoted only for licensed users with "listen before talk"
contention-based protocol. Sections of the electromagnetic spectrum that
are in high demand are usually allocated through auctions.
Daily impact Every day, users rely on allocation of frequencies
for efficient use of such devices as: cell phone
cordless phone garage door opener
car key remote control broadcast television and audio
Standard time broadcast vehicle-speed radar, air traffic radar, weather
radar mobile radio
Global Positioning System navigation satellite TV broadcast reception; also backend
signal dissemination Microwave oven
Bluetooth Wifi
Zigbee RFID devices such as active badges, passports,
wireless gasoline token, no-contact credit-cards, and product tags
toll-road payment vehicle transponders Citizen's band radio and Family Radio Service
Radio control, including Radio-controlled model aircraft and vehicles
wireless microphones and musical instrument links
International conventions The range of "radio frequencies" is a matter
of international convention. The separation of countries into the three formal ITU RF
allocation regions is one source of different RF allocation policies in different parts
of the world. The definition of the ITU Regions is based largely on longitude. According to
ITU Radio Regulations section 5.1: Member States assign licenses to stations; article
5 of the ITU regulations allocates frequencies to services. The ITU divides the world into
five administrative regions: A
the Americas, B
Western Europe, C
Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, D
Africa, and E
Asia and Australasia. The ITU also categorises states into three
Radio regulatory Regions: Region 1
Europe, Middle East, Africa, the former Soviet Union, including Siberia; and Mongolia;
Region 2 North and South America and Pacific;
Region 3 Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim.
Thus, the RF allocations fundamentally differ between continents. Longitude may traverse
continents, for example, the 40°E meridian crosses Europe, Asia and Africa.
The division between Europe and the other regions is the root of the different RF allocations
in the ITU Radio Regulations, and standards around the world. ITU-R Study group 1 details
how and why there are three separate Regions. See also
Amateur radio frequency allocations Bandplan
Broadcast license Cellular frequencies
Radio Resource Management Spectrum management
Spectrum reallocation Ultra-wideband
Frequency coordinator Earth observation satellites transmission
frequencies References
External links ITU Radio Regulations - Volume 1 international
table of frequencies by ITU Region ; ISBN 92-95003-23-3 from public archives
of Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics
Australian radiofrequency 2009 Spectrum Wall Chart On 1 July 2005, the Australian Broadcasting
Authority and the Australian Communications Authority merged to become the Australian
Communications and Media Authority. Radio Frequency Allocations Table Chart to
30 MHz Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations
UK Frequency Allocation Table 2013 US Frequency Allocation Chart - Covering the
range 3 kHz to 300 GHz Galbi, Douglas, Revolutionary Ideas for Radio
Regulation," Section IV, Personal Freedom and Licensing.
UnwantedEmissions.com - On-line query of U.S. allocation table, with additional information.
Cuadro Nacional de Atribución de Frequencias 2007
[1]- Pakistan Table of Frequency Allocations India Frequency Allocation Plan 2005
Japan Frequency Assignment Plan 2008 Harvey J. Levin: Pioneering the Economics
of the Airwaves The Invisible Resource: Use and Regulation
of the Radio Spectrum U.S. spectrum graphic from technology Review,
2010 India frequency allocation