Ultra Wideband (UWB)

Ultra-wideband (UWB) is a wireless technology providing short-range, very highspeed wireless communication between electronic devices. Differently from other wireless technologies, a UWB transmitter spreads its signal over a very broad radio frequency range. Spreading the signal over a very broad frequency range allows very high data rates of information. However, this spectrum is already also used by other radio applications, like satellites and radio astronomy stations. Therefore, UWB can only be allowed to operate at extremely low power to avoid interference with other equipment. For the applications this technology is targeting, it is possible to achieve acceptable results while avoiding harmful interference to other users.

The main advantages of UWB technology are high data rates, low cost and low power. This means that many types of devices in the home and business environments (laptops, mobile phones, TVs, DVDs, memory sticks, digital cameras, MP3 players…) could be networked wirelessly at a data rate that would effectively be impossible using “classical” radio technology. This is because of UWB's very large data rate (up to 500 Mbit/s currently and may become even higher later) at very low power and at low cost. The operation range is several metres, up to around 10 m, though the further away the devices are, the lower the data rate.

Low power also means longer battery life and mobility. UWB devices also include high resistance to eavesdropping. some forms of UWB allow distances to be measured accurately. This feature can be used also for high-precision positioning and location identification in, for example, public safety applications or to look in a wall if and where cables or other objects are hidden in the wall.