Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being considered to ensure a guard band of 20MHz as a buffer to protect the Bluetooth application in hearing devices.

Ofcom is the independent spectrum regulator accountable to parliament for such matters. They inform me that the band is a licence exempt band which means it is free to use, without licence, but also that all users operate on the basis that they must not cause interference to others and that they can expect no additional protection themselves. However, we recognise that assisted listening devices are important and hence Ofcom have taken steps to undertake additional testing to determine if the band is likely to face any interference from adjacent bands. Results of this testing are due shortly. With regard to your question about overcrowding in the band, Ofcom has been moving to make additional spectrum available in other bands for Wi-Fi as soon as possible.