Plans by Tesco to roll out the UK's largest radio
frequency identification project are being held up by red tape
surrounding ultra high-frequency tag technology.
The supermarket chain plans to equip 4,000 sites across the UK
with RFID tags. When completed, the system will be one of the most
advanced RFID deployments in the world.
Tesco is using RFID readers from ADT and middleware from Oat
systems. The UHF technology is based on the EN302208 specification
from the European Telecoms Standards Institute.
Simon Palinkas, Tesco programme manager responsible for the
roll-out, said, "The performance of RFID is not what I want it to
be due to regulations."
He said EU regulations regarding the use of the 865MHz to 868MHz
radio spectrum have affected the project. "EN302208 is a difficult
standard. It is difficult to get kit and you require a site
licence," he said.
The potentially huge cost of obtaining licences from Ofcom is
holding back deployment of the technology, Palinkas said.
He believes EN302 208 is an inferior standard to its US
equivalent. "There are problems getting 70 to 100 readers working
at the same time," he said.
A spokesman for Ofcom said the regulator was aware of the
potential benefits of RFID and "was minded to exempt the use of
this equipment from licensing".
But to do so Ofcom must first hold a consultation, which is not
likely to begin before the end of the year.