The National Deaf Children’s Society has warned that the government’s plans to sell off radio frequencies which are used by mobile phones may have an adverse effect on hearing aids.
A government auction of radio frequencies could render thousands of hearing aids and implants useless, a charity has claimed.
The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) said the auction to mobile phone companies could leave an inadequate protection zone between the frequency range used by technology such as hearing aids, cochlear implants and radio aid and the band up for offer.
Ofcom said the NDCS’s concerns were “alarmist”, and said it had carried out careful tests to ensure devices would not be affected by mobile signals.
Many hearing devices all operate within the 2.40 to 2.485 GHz frequency range.
Ofcom is proposing to auction the 2.35 to 2.39 GHz frequencies, leaving a 10 MHz protection zone between the two bands.
The NDCS said this “might not be enough” to prevent interference from mobile telephone networks using 4G, and warned that “at worst” the use of these frequencies could cause equipment to malfunction or fail altogether.
The charity is urging Ofcom and the Media Secretary Karen Bradley to put the auction on hold while more testing is carried out.
Read more here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/24/deaf-childrens-charity-warns-hearing-aids-may-fail-if-radio-freq/
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MW
August 26, 2016
Without the full fact – but a question first came to my mind – why is there no united front from all DEAF ORGANSIATIONS on this subject matter most important to us all.
Just seeing this from NDCS sounds very odd?
I would be very concern the action OFCOM and certainly cannot trust their abilities after their decision Text Relay as an example.
If there is an interference what will be done to put it to right – make us suffer more still as they usually do. Seriously, what plan B?
I experienced on the BA new airbus – the whining noise and the loop system is a no go joke. Definitely a radio interference – but do they care when complaint are made. Ofcom should take note.
MW
August 26, 2016
Wondering what are the view coming from those listed organisation and their input?
1.British Society of Audiology – BSA
2.The British Academy of Audiology
3.UK Audiology Organisations – Audiology Associations & Societies
Do they have concerns our wellbeing at heart?