Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) underpins almost all engineering activities and influences our daily life more than ever in a time when the number of EMC problems is rapidly increasing. In the coming years, the electromagnetic environment will drastically change. A high-speed digital lifestyle and a widespread proliferation of wired and wireless devices including power line communications will, without well-timed and properly informed action, result in an increase of interference problems in homes, vehicles, hospitals, factories, aircraft, etc. In addition to this ‘natural’ environment, intentional electromagnetic threats are now also emerging to which unprotected systems will be vulnerable. Without a coordinated approach and development program, this increasingly complex electromagnetic environment may no longer be controlled and could lead to more and more interference problems and safety hazards, possibly aggravated by intentional malicious aggressions. The main objective of COST Action 286 was to encourage and to coordinate research focusing on the means by which the Electromagnetic Compatibility of Diffused Communications Systems can be ensured at the design stage, through appropriate design and assessment strategies. COST Action 286 was instrumental in proposing possible concrete solutions, and indicating future research needs. In addition, the results of the exploratory studies in antenna-wire coupling, in unstructured telecom networks, and in an updated definition of the EM industrial environment, represent an ideal state-of-the-art definition for the worldwide experts in the field. In summary, COST Action 286 provided means to assess the level of coupling between generic wired and mobile devices, that have experienced an explosive global growth over the last two decades, and therefore offer the capability to designers of estimating the risk of malfunction and the effectiveness of proposed remedies using computer-aided design tools. The identification of the need to update the EMC Standards to reflect the continually growing complexity of the ambient electromagnetic environment was also an important outcome from the Action.
