MOSCOW-The Russian Communications Ministry finally gave the go-ahead for Bluetooth technology to develop in the country, and satisfied producers and dealers are predicting a sales boom.
The State Commission for Radio Frequencies (GKRCh) officially allowed Bluetooth to use the 2400-2483.5 MHz band. It cancelled permissions for each device and actually allowed use for all existing types of the equipment. However only transmitters with a range of 10 meters can be operated freely, while devices with a range of up to 100 meters are “subject to the existing provisions for the use of in-company data transmission systems in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band.”
Practically all Bluetooth devices currently operate in a range of 30 meters.
Bluetooth producers and dealers, which earlier had to resort to “shadow methods” in importing the devices to Russia, welcomed the GKRCh decision, although some said it is rather late.
“All the devices that are currently on sale in this country have been brought in via gray channels. We have been looking forward for the restrictions to be lifted,” said Natalya Makarova from Siemens’ Moscow office.
“This is good news. As a producer we can only welcome such steps,” said Andrei Bychenko from Motorola’s Russian office. He predicted the share of Bluetooth devices in Russia will jump from the current 1 percent of all electronic devices to 3 to 5 percent by the end of the year.
However, Dmitry Khavju from McCenter Company argued, “The best moment for Bluetooth has passed. It is time now for the competing Wi-Fi standard.”
