New EU UWB Regulations: Pozyx Optimizes RTLS for Maximum Benefit

At a glance

At Pozyx we successfully recertified our UWB anchors and tags under the new European UWB regulations. The result? Up to 40% increase in range, with coverage of up to 50 meters in real-world industrial environments—all while reducing infrastructure costs and maintaining the high precision Pozyx is known for.

What's Changing with UWB in Europe?

In May 2024, the European Union adopted Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1467, introducing significant updates to the regulatory framework for ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. These changes are designed to enhance the performance and adoption of UWB-based systems across various industries.

However, while the decision was published in May, it wasn't until December 2024 that the regulatory environment and associated technical parameters were fully finalized and available for manufacturers to certify their products under the new rules.

Key updates include:

• Increased Transmission Power for Indoor Use:
  The regulation raises the maximum allowable transmission power for indoor UWB devices by 10 dB, from -41.3 dBm/Hz to -31.3 dBm/Hz. This increase can theoretically triple the range between tags and anchors, improving signal penetration and reliability in complex environments. Is higher power a concern? Not at all. Even with this increase, UWB operates at extremely low transmission power levels—millions of times lower than typical Wi-Fi or 5G signals. It’s safe and engineered specifically for precision rather than high throughput.
• Harmonized Outdoor Usage Across the EU:
  Previously, outdoor deployment of UWB systems faced varying regulations across EU member states. The new decision harmonizes the use of UWB channels 5 to 9 (6 GHz to 8.5 GHz) for outdoor applications, simplifying deployment processes and reducing administrative barriers.

These regulatory enhancements aim to facilitate broader adoption of UWB technology, enabling more efficient and scalable real-time location systems (RTLS) in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and smart warehousing.

Recertification: Going the Extra Mile

At Pozyx, we didn’t just check a box to stay compliant. We saw an opportunity to push the performance envelope, and we took it.

We immediately moved to recertify our full range of anchors and tags together with the certification lab to take full advantage of the new regulatory landscape. Our engineering and certification teams worked closely to integrate the updated specs into our devices—ensuring that the improvements are not only theoretical but real-world ready.

Real-World Testing: What Did We Learn?

Once the updated devices were ready, we conducted extensive field testing in actual industrial environments —spaces with lots of metal structures, RF interference, and dynamic layouts.

Here’s what we observed:

• 30% to 40% increase in effective range, depending on the layout and interference levels.
• Consistent performance over distances up to 50 meters, even in complex, signal-hostile settings.
• Fewer anchors required to cover the same area, reducing installation time, maintenance, and overall deployment cost.

This is a game changer for customers looking to scale UWB deployments across large or complex facilities.

What It Means for Industry

These enhancements mean more than just better tech specs—they open new doors for how UWB can be applied:

• Smarter layouts with fewer anchors
• Cost savings on hardware and installation
• New use cases in large, open, or high-interference environments

“The new UWB regulations are great news for the industry,” said Samuel Van de Velde, CTO of Pozyx. “They allow us to deliver even more powerful and cost-effective RTLS solutions, without compromising on accuracy. It’s a win-win for us and our customers.”

Final Thoughts

The recertification of our UWB anchors and tags marks a major step forward for scalable, efficient, and reliable real-time location systems in Europe. By fully embracing the new EU regulations, Pozyx is delivering more range, fewer hardware requirements, and greater flexibility in deployment—all while maintaining the sub-meter accuracy that makes UWB so powerful.

While these regulatory improvements are now in place in Europe, similar discussions are also ongoing in the United States to allow for increased UWB transmission power. Unfortunately, there is no clear conclusion yet on when or if these changes will be adopted.

The good news? In the U.S., lower UWB frequency channels (like channels 1 to 3) are already allowed and widely used—and these channels often outperform the higher-frequency channels (like 5 and 9) currently used in Europe, especially in terms of range and penetration.

At Pozyx, we’re excited to lead the way in adapting to evolving regulatory landscapes—and we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of location intelligence, wherever our customers operate.