868 MHz frequency is not license free in India – LoRa in India

Frequency bands used by different technologies:

The reason i wrote this article is because recently i have been interested in experimenting with LoRa technology for one of my projects and was confused with usage of these modules in India. The reason for this confusion is because, LoRa can operate in licensed and license free ISM bands like 335 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz, 915MHz etc. But, In India the unlicensed frequency band is from 865MHz to 867MHz and does not cover the 868 MHz frequency as shown below in the Government notification.  

Government of India

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

(Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing) 

NOTIFICATION

Delhi, 10^th January, 2007.

            G.S.R.36 (E).- In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 4 and 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885) and sections 4 and 10 of the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 (17 of 1933), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, to amend the “Use of low power Equipment in the frequency band 865 – 867 MHz for (RFID) Radio Frequency Identification Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2005.”  namely:-                       

1.         (1) These rules may be called the Use of low power Equipment in the frequency band 865 – 867 MHz for (RFID) Radio Frequency Identification Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Amendment Rules, 2006. 

(2)        They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2.         In Rule 3, the words “shared (non-Exclusive)“ shall be substituted in place of “non-exclusive” 

3.               In the said rules, for rule 4, the following rule shall be substituted.- 

4.       Interference.-  The effect of unwanted energy due to one or a combination of emissions, radiations or induction upon reception in a radio communication system, manifested by any performance degradation, misinterpretation, or loss of information which could be extracted in the absence of such unwanted energy, where any person whom a licence has been issued under section 4 of the Act, informs that his licensed system is getting harmful interference from any other radio communication system exempted under these rules, the indoor user of such unlicensed wireless equipment shall take necessary steps to avoid interference by relocating the equipment, reducing the power, using special type of antennae including discontinuation of such wireless use, if required: 

            Provided that, before such discontinuation, a reasonable opportunity to explain the circumstances shall be offered to such unlicensed user of wireless equipment.” 

( No.R-11014/23/2004-LR ) 

                                                         (P.Chandrasekharan), Assistant Wireless Advisor.

Note:   The principal rule were published in the Gazette of India, Part II, Section 3, Sub-Section (i), dated the 11^th March, 2005, vide notification No.168 (E), dated the 11^th March, 2005.

Solution: The LoRa technology is able to operate on different frequency bands as shown below,

Most of the modules available on the market are certainly capable of being tuned to operate in the unlicensed frequency bands in India. So if you plan to use the LoRa module in the 868 MHz band then program it to transmit and receive data in only the 865-867 MHz band and avoid using the licensed 868MHz frequency.

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