Global Deployment Made Simple: The CC1120’s Wide Frequency Range & Regulatory Support
The Internet of Things is a global phenomenon, but the radio spectrum is governed by a complex patchwork of national and regional regulations. Designing a product for worldwide sale traditionally meant creating multiple hardware variants for different frequency bands (e.g., 868 MHz for Europe, 915 MHz for North America, 920 MHz for Japan), increasing inventory complexity, certification costs, and time-to-market. The Texas Instruments CC1120 elegantly solves this challenge by being a true multi-band, globally capable Sub-GHz transceiver, enabling a single hardware platform to be adapted for major markets worldwide through simple firmware configuration.
The CC1120 is designed to operate across three broad and strategically important frequency ranges: 164-192 MHz, 410-480 MHz, and 820-960 MHz. This covers virtually all major license-free Short Range Device (SRD) and Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands. A product designed with a broadband antenna and matching network covering, for example, 860-960 MHz, can be sold as-is in Europe (868 MHz), North/South America (902-928 MHz), and Asia-Pacific regions (e.g., 915 MHz in Singapore, 920-928 MHz in Japan). The target operating frequency, channel spacing, and output power are all defined in software, loaded into the CC1120’s configuration registers at startup.
This software-defined approach is critical for meeting stringent regulatory standards such as FCC Part 15.247/249 in the US, ETSI EN 300 220 in Europe, and ARIB STD-T108 in Japan. These standards dictate not only frequency but also output power limits, occupied bandwidth, spectral masks (out-of-channel emissions), and duty cycle restrictions. The CC1120’s programmability allows designers to precisely tailor its characteristics. For instance:
In the 902-928 MHz FCC band, it can be configured for higher output power (+14 dBm or more) and wider channels.
In the 868 MHz ETSI band, it can be set to adhere to tighter spectral masks and specific duty cycle or Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) requirements through controlled software behavior.
Its superior phase noise and modulation accuracy help in meeting strict emission limits adjacent to the carrier.
TI supports this global endeavor with region-specific reference configurations available in SmartRF™ Studio and detailed application reports on certification. Using these proven starting points significantly reduces the risk and time involved in pre-compliance testing.
The benefits of this global design strategy are immense for product companies. It enables economies of scale in manufacturing and inventory management. It simplifies supply chain logistics, as one SKU serves multiple markets. It accelerates international rollout, as firmware can be localized for a region without altering the production line. Ultimately, the CC1120’s wide frequency range and configurability future-proof a product, allowing it to adapt to new spectral allocations or regional requirements with a simple firmware update, protecting the hardware investment for years to come. In a connected world, the CC1120 provides the radio that can truly connect it all.