This whitepaper addresses the RFID technology and markets in Western Europe. It discusses the European technology standards debate and opportunities and challenges facing companies wishing to implement RFID initiatives within Europe. It also provides forecast for European RFID initiatives upto 2009. ISO in collaboration with International electrotechnical committee has produced set of standards, while International Electrotechnical council, European Telecommunications Standards Institute and EPC global have also developed RFID standards. RFID has been driven by the end-user in the United States, while in Europe the retail giants like METRO, Marks & Spencer and Carrefour have in the forefront.

Tagging of baggage in airline industry and automatic road toll collection have been well established sectors for RFID applications. But there is a major opportunity in pallet tagging and smart cards. Another major market set to grow is the pharmaceutical products segment to tackle counterfeiting.

The market for RFID is set to accelerate during 2006/2007 when the technical issues are solved and the trials are successful. But the real boom will be ten years from now.

Reprinted with permission from the author: Susan Griffin, Colin Williams, Consultant, and Juniper Research