Interference susceptibility of civilian wireless consumer technology

Authors:

  • Peter Stenumgaard

Publish date: 2011-07-15

Report number: FOI-R--3216--SE

Pages: 28

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • Wireless communications
  • radio
  • radio interference
  • noise immunity
  • industrial radio
  • military radio
  • security

Abstract

This report is a result of research collaboration between FOI and Universities where both military-funded research can be used for civilian applications while civilian research can be used for applications in defense and civil security. This collaboration is funded by the Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). For some activities wireless technology is a necessity, such as in actions in which rescue workers and police are involved. With the increased use of wireless systems the vulnerability will increase in both industrial and security applications. Interference signals generated naturally by the all kinds of electronic systems today have led to a number of serious incidents in critical wireless systems. Another growing problem is that illegal actors have been quick to exploit interference susceptibility of various wireless systems. Criminal actors use jammers to knock out interference-sensitive wireless technology. Examples of such use are in wireless vehicle locks, security gates in stores and burglar alarms. This report highlights some key issues needed to understand how this vulnerability varies among different types of wireless technology. Examples are given of interference incidents for critical wireless systems. A comparison is made between military and civilian wireless technology since these two main areas traditionally have chosen to prioritize noise immunity in different ways. This fundamental difference in priority is the main causes why civilian wireless consumer products are generally highly sensitive to interference. This fact is important to consider if civilian consumer technology is used in military applications. The needs of increased noise immunity increase, both in wireless industrial applications, and applications in personal and societal security. The fact that civilian wireless products are generally sensitive to interference implies that the greater use of them in critical applications leads to an increased vulnerability to both accidental interference and against deliberate attempts to interfere with various functions. The trend regarding the allocation of frequency spectrum shows that the management of the resulting interference problems to a greater extent than previously is left to the market actors to manage. The implication of this is that suppliers and end users have to ensure that that they possess the requisite skills to handle these issues.