UHF RFID Frequency Band Standards
The three main frequency band standards that can apply to UHF RFID Readers are:
| Frequency Range | Radiated Power | Channel Bandwidth | |
| US (FCC) | 902 – 928 MHz | 4 Watts ERP | 400 kHz |
| EU (ETSI Upper) | 915 – 921 MHz | 4 Watts ERP | 400 kHz |
| EU (ETSI Lower) | 865 – 868 MHz | 2 Watts ERP | 200 kHz |
ETSI Upper Band
ETSI Upper Band is a recently approved standard that allows higher performance than ETSI Lower Band – double the radiated power, double the channel bandwidth and a ten-fold increase in tag backscatter allowance. This can allow increased read range and read rates. As ETSI Upper Band overlaps with the FCC frequency range, it increases the potential for antennas and tags to be used globally.
The EU member states that have accepted ETSI Upper Band operation are detailed in the table below. This information was gathered on 30th May 2025 using the information available on that date within GS1’s UHF Frequency Regulations document and Impinj’s EU Upper Band Country List. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to GS1’s latest UHF Frequency Regulations document.
Some of these countries listed have further restrictions or limitations – please see the corresponding notes for details of the restrictions or limitations that TSL is currently aware of.
| EU member state | Frequency in MHz | Power | Notes | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
Upper Band operation in Austria requires site license from ministry. Before the RFID reader is put into operation, an application must be submitted to the telecommunications office in accordance with Section 80a TKG 2003. |
Communication Authority Austria |
| Belgium | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP | Limited to upper 2 channels. Upper Band operation in Belgium requires site license from ministry. License is temporary and must be renewed. End user must submit the application. If granted, the license is temporary, limited to the end of the year, and must be renewed. License may be refused to protect E-GSMR (too close to railway tracks). To apply for a license, end user must fill out the application form available here. Regulations: available here. | Institut belge des services postaux et des télécommunications – IBPT +32 2 226 8888 info@bipt.be www.bipt.be BIPT reference B07-06-V2.1 of 29 March 2022 |
| Bulgaria | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP | https://www.mtitc.government.bg/sites/default/files/freq_plan_2018_bg-1_03092018.pdf https://crc.bg/files/Pravila_06_12_2018.pdf |
Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) +359 2 949 2418 chairman@crc.bg www.crc.bg |
| Croatia | 915 – 921 | 4 W ERP | General license per ERC/REC 70-03 http://tablice.hakom.hr:8080/vis?lang=en | Croatian Telecommunications Agency +385 1 489 6000 https://www.hakom.hr/ |
| Cyprus | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP | The relevant amendment of the Radiofrequency Plan was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic on 28/06/2019. | Office of the Commissioner of Telecommunications and Postal Regulation +357 2269 3000 info@octpr.org.cy |
| Czech Republic | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP | General Authorization No. VO-R/10/01.2019-1, Articles 11 and 15 |
Czech Telecommunication Office +420 224 004 704 |
| Denmark | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
The new revision of the national frequency plan can be found here: https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=205121 |
Danish Business Authority +45 35 29 10 00 |
| Estonia | 915 – 921 | 4 W ERP |
Estonian National Communications Board (ENCB) +372 693 1154 |
|
| Finland | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
The latest version of Regulation 4 (Radiotaajuusmääräys M4Y EN) can be found here: http://www.finlex.fi/fi/viranomaiset/normi/480001/44839 The latest version of Regulation 15 (Regulation 15AO EN) can be found here: http://www.finlex.fi/fi/viranomaiset/normi/480001/44836?searc |
Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) +358 9 6966 1 |
| France | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
Users must declare deployments to ANFR. Declaration of 916.1-918.8 MHz band use required at: https://www.anfr.fr/en/frequency-site-management/sites-servitudes-et-assignations/sites/declaration-rfid-en-bande-9161-9189-mhz/ |
National Frequency Agency (ANFR) |
| Hungary | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
Decree No. 7/2015 (XI.13.) NMHH of the President of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority, Hungary on the national frequency allocation and the rules of using frequency bands amended by Decree No. 2/2019 (III.22.)
|
National Communications Authority, Hungary (NCAH) +36 1 457 7488 |
| Ireland | 915 – 921 | 4 W ERP |
Commission for Communications Regulation +353 1 804 9619 |
|
| Italy | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
Autoritá per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM) +39 081 7507111 |
|
| Lithuania | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP | Upper Band operation in Lithuania requires site license from ministry. The technical and location information of the stations intended to be registered in the RRT database shall be sent to rrt@rrt.lt. |
Communications Regulatory Authority +370 5 210 5684 |
| Luxembourg | 915 – 921 | 4 W ERP |
Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation (ILR) +352 4588 4529 |
|
| Malta | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lp&itemid=29646&l=1 |
Malta Communications Authority +356 21 336 840 |
| Portugal | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
ICP – Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM) +351 21 721 1000 |
|
| Romania | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
National Regulatory Authority for Communications (ANRC) +40 21 3075 400 |
|
| Slovakia | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
The legal reference is stated in the Article I “Basic Provisions”, of the General Authorizations No. VPR-01/2019, No. VPR-02/2019, No. VPR-03/2019: “In this General Authorization we have implemented Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1538 …”. References to the decision “(EU) 2018/1538” we have included to the next update of the NTFA. |
Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic +421 2 5788 1553 |
| Slovenia | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP | General Act on amendments of the General act on the radio frequency utilisation plan (NURF-4a) (Off.G. RS, 46/19). https://www.uradni-list.si/glasilo-uradni-list-rs/vsebina/2019-01-2222/splosni-akt-o-spremembah-in-dopolnitvi-splosnega-akta-o-nacrtu-uporabe-radijskih-frekvenc-nurf-4a |
Post and Electronic Communications Agenca of the Republic of Slovenia +386 1 583 6300 |
| Spain | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP | Upper Band operation in Spain is permitted for lower 2 channels. Operation in upper 918.7 MHz channel requires placing the reader at least 300 meters away from all rail lines (as measured in a straight line between reader and rail line). |
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business (MINECO). Deputy Directorate-General for Planning and Management of the Radioelectric Spectrum +34 91 346 15 35 |
| Sweden | 916.1 – 918.9 | 4 W ERP |
Upper Band operation in Sweden requires site license from ministry. To apply for a license, complete this application and email it to pts@pts.se. National frequency plan (PTSFS 2019:1): https://www.pts.se/sv/bransch/radio/frekvensplanen/ |
Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS) +46 8 678 55 00 |