The European Commission decided to extend until 2018 the authorization that allowed short-range anti-collision radars in automobile vehicles to use the 24 GHz band. This extension of the original period (until 2013) aims at enabling car manufacturers to develop radars that use the 79 GHz band, which had been the frequencies allocated, in 2004, to this type of systems.
Currently, only 0.05 percent of the cars travelling in Europe have this type of radar systems, all using the 24 GHz band. On the other hand, most of these radars equip luxury cars. By extending the usage period of the 24 GHz, the EC intends to stimulate industry to develop radars that use the 79 GHz, so they are commercially available. All this because the "widespread installation of short-range radar systems in cars could significantly improve road safety for all road users and pedestrians," considers Neelie Kroes, European Digital Agenda Commissioner.
Further information:
- Digital Agenda: Commission facilitates deployment of car radar systems to boost road safety http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/937&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Commission Decision C(2011)5444 amending Decision 2005/50/EC of 17 January 2005 on the harmonisation of the 24 GHz range radio spectrum band for the time-limited use by automotive short-range radar equipment in the Community http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/radio_spectrum/_document_storage/legislation/decisions/srr_24_amending_2011/1_en_act_part1_v2.pdf
