Europe pricks up its ears to spectrum for hearing aids

By Peter Chapman

Date: 04/03/04

ERKKI Liikanen, the commissioner for enterprise and the information society, has unveiled plans to boost the market for smart new electronic hearing aids that work across the European Union.

The Finn wants to reuse the space on the airwaves, or "spectrum", that is currently reserved for a paging system known as "Ermes" - out of fashion since the rise in popularity of mobile phones.

The plan will allow citizens to use tiny ear devices that pick up radio signals when they are in another member state.

Liikanen said: "A hearing aid that works on one member state's authorized radio frequencies, but not another's, is a practical liability.

"We need to put in place the infrastructure, measures and resources to ensure that accessibility needs are addressed, from the design stage on, to deliver Europe-wide solutions."

Liikanen said the lack of common frequency bands means that possibilities to send an evacuation signal directly to someone's hearing aid may work in one country, but will not help the user if he or she takes that hearing aid abroad.

Interference between mobile phones and certain hearing aids also needs to be dealt with, he added.

The Commission has issued a mandate to the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations - in charge of carving-up the airwaves - to prepare the groundwork for the services.

Other devices, such as transmitters to help police track down stolen cars, may also be able to use the spare spectrum.

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