Malaysian Microchip

At an event last month, there where three chips (MM1, MM2 and MM3) were launched by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He said the research and development potential of RFID technology was vast and exciting. This is a new emerging technology that can conquer the world.

According to them, this chips can work over multiple bands. Most chips can only do one band, and if users want to comply with another band, a different chip has to be designed and manufactured for that purpose. The chips are so small that it can be embedded in paper. It's great. RFID technology solves many of the problems faced by the government, especially relating to security issues. We can embed the chip in halal certificates, sijil nikah (marriage certificates), car registration cards, confidential documents in government departments, currency notes and so on. With this authentication technology we can avoid forgeries and overcome the counterfeiting problem.

My concern is on the frequencies spectrum allocated and assigned for this Malaysian Microchip. Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) must allow more frequencies bandwidth in their Standard Radio System Plan (SRSP) in order to widen the capabilities of the RFID application. So far, MCMC just allowing the usage of 125kHz, 13.56MHz, and recently approving the frequency range for 919MHz to 923MHz. The UHF frequency range is too close to GSM frequency range which is 900MHz to 1800MHz.

How about frequency ranging from 400MHz - 500MHz ???

Higher frequency range capable to enable so many intelligent system based on RFID system. MCMC have to consider the potential of enabling the frequecy range from 400MHz to 500MHz in order to establish a nation wide wireless system.