Page last updated: 25/07/08

Potential Interference to Electronic Equipment

The digital technology used by modern mobile phone services supports more users, a greater range of services and improved privacy for conversations.

However, the on-off nature of digital signals may cause interference to some electronic devices. The potential for interference decreases rapidly as the distance between the mobile phone and the electronic device increases. Higher frequencies of operation and lower transmit powers also tend to reduce interference.

Newer electronic devices usually offer better immunity against such interference.

Potential interference of mobile phones with pacemakers, hearing aids and other devices, Committee on Electromagnetic Energy Public Health Issues (Australia), EME Series No.8, November 2003

Health informatics -- Use of mobile wireless communication and computing technology in healthcare facilities, Recommendations for the management of unintentional electromagnetic interference with medical devices, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO/TR 21730:2005

Mobile communications interference, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK), July 2004

Interference to Hearing Aids by Digital Mobile Telephones Operating in the 1800 MHz Band National Acoustic Laboratories, January 2008.

Exploratory Investigation of WCDMA Interference to Hearing Aids National Acoustic Laboratories, 30 August 2006.

Assessment of Interference to Hearing Aids used in Australia by CDMA Digital Mobile Phones, National Acoustic Laboratories, 13 August 1999.

What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment? Food & Drug Administration (USA) Cell Phone Facts, Accessed 13 September 2006

University of Oklahoma (USA), Center for the Study of Wireless Electromagnetic Compatibility