Would RF Energy From Cellular Broadcast Antennas Interrupt or Drown Out an RFID Chip?

The answer would depend on the type of cellular system, as well as the type of RFID technology, being used.

Time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA) and integrated digital enhanced network (IDEN) technologies typically broadcast at 800 MHz or 1900 MHz, while Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) solutions in the United States broadcast at 850 MHz, 1800 MHz or 1900 MHz. Some systems might operate close to 900 MHz, depending on the regulations in place within a particular country.

Passive ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) systems operate at 125 kHz, 134 kHz, and 860 MHz to 960 MHz. Active systems operate at 433 MHz, 915 MHz, 2.45 GHz and 5.6 GHz.

The only time that a cell system might interfere with an RFID solution would be if the cell tower were broadcasting at 900 MHz and the passive UHF system were operating in the same frequency band. The tower would have to be located fairly close to the facility using RFID for this to happen.