Views of the public sought on Australian wireless spectrum
A crucial piece of wireless spectrum needed to advance the nation’s mobile broadband services could soon be added to the government’s “digital dividend” auction block after the communications watchdog put out a public call for how the spectrum band should be best used.
After the government’s announcement last week that it would auction off a large chunk of broadcasting spectrum after the switch from analog to digital television, the Australian Communications and Media Authority issued a discussion paper yesterday to canvass public and stakeholder opinion on how best to derive value from the 2.5GHz spectrum band currently used by free-to-air television broadcasters for electronic news gathering (ENG).
To read this report in The Australian in full, see:
www.theaustralian.com.au/business/views-of-the-public-sought-on-wireless-spectrum/story-e6frg8zx-1225818583093
Also see:
ACMA releases discussion paper on review of the 2.5 GHz spectrum band
The Australian Communications and Media Authority today released a discussion paper as part of its review of the pricing, planning and licensing arrangements for spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band. The 2.5 GHz band is currently used primarily by free to air TV broadcasters for electronic news gathering (ENG).
‘This review has two important objectives,’ said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA. ‘It is intended to identify how the 2.5 GHz band should be planned and allocated so that it accords with its highest value use. Also, we need to identify suitable long-term spectrum arrangements to support the essential ENG services, especially since there has been uncertainty about the long-term spectrum arrangements for ENG services in Australia since the international identification and harmonisation of the 2.5 GHz band for wireless access services in 2000. This review is an important step in removing that uncertainty, identifying appropriate future arrangements for ENG services and moving forward.’
The 2.5 GHz band has also been identified through previous public consultation as a candidate band to address emerging demand for broadband wireless access services. Indeed, it is the primary, internationally harmonised band for these services.
The ACMA has formed the view that the current planning, licensing and pricing arrangements in the 2.5GHz band are unlikely to support its future efficient allocation and use. The ACMA therefore considers it timely to review those arrangements.
‘The ACMA has developed a wide-ranging discussion paper about future options for the 2.5 GHz band and for ENG services, to give all stakeholders the opportunity to comment on technical and policy issues associated with the use of this spectrum,’ Mr Chapman said. ‘This discussion paper has been well informed by the ACMA’s previous consultation on demand for broadband wireless access services.’
The discussion paper sets out a preliminary view that ENG services could continue to operate in a part of the 2.5 GHz band. The remainder of the band would be made available for wireless access services via spectrum licensing in major metropolitan areas and may be available for both ENG and wireless access services in other areas.
If some ENG services do move from the 2.5 GHz band, additional spectrum in other bands will be required for these services to continue to operate. The discussion paper identifies several other bands the ACMA believes might be suitable for these services. In some cases, other users may be required to relocate from these alternative bands, in which case the ACMA would work with them to identify other suitable spectrum.
‘The ACMA is committed to consultation and collaboration on spectrum matters,’ Mr Chapman said. ‘I encourage all interested stakeholders to read this important discussion paper and consider making a submission to the ACMA.’
The discussion paper, Review of the 2.5 GHz band and long-term arrangements for ENG, is available on the ACMA website. The closing date for comment is Friday 12 March 2010.
Submissions should be sent to 2.5GHzproject@acma.gov.au, which is also the contact point for further information.
Media contact: Donald Robertson, Media Manager on (02) 9334 7980.
Backgrounder
The ACMA is responsible for managing Australia’s radiofrequency spectrum. The continual evolution and increasing sophistication of wireless technologies, and the rapidly growing and competing demand for spectrum from different users and services, means that spectrum management is becoming increasingly complex. Part of the ACMA’s task is to facilitate spectrum access for new technologies in a flexible and responsive manner while acknowledging the understandable needs of existing spectrum users. Critically, the ACMA also needs to take into account international planning decisions, and related issues such as equipment availability.
On 14 October 2008, the ACMA announced its intention to review the arrangements for the 2.5 GHz band (2500-2690 MHz), to ensure that the band could be planned and allocated so as to accord with the maximisation of the overall benefit derived from that spectrum. At that time the ACMA also identified the other objective of the review, namely, to deliver suitable long-term arrangements for electronic news gathering (ENG), whether in the 2.5 GHz band, in other bands, or in combinations of bands, in order to resolve the current uncertainty about spectrum arrangements for ENG (see MR 124/2008).
This announcement coincided with the release of the paper Strategies for Wireless Access Services: Consultation Outcomes (PDF, 371 kb). This paper provided a summary of submissions to the Strategies for Wireless Access Services: Spectrum Access Options (PDF, 736 kb) paper, as well as presenting the outcomes of the consultation process.
A presentation on the ACMA’s announcement and the paper Strategies for Wireless Access Services: Consultation Outcomes (PDF, 371 kb) was also given at the ACMA’s Spectrum Tune-Up conference on 15 October 2008.
Long-term arrangements for ENG
The ACMA has identified several bands which, in combination with access to part of the 2.5 GHz band (2570-2620 MHz), it believes would provide long term arrangements for ENG. In some cases these bands might be shared with other users, while in other cases some users might be required to relocate.
| 1980-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz | ||
|---|---|---|
| Potential ENG Use | Incumbent Services | Limitations |
| Airborne (eg. helicopters)
Mobile (eg. handheld wireless cameras, vehicle mounted cameras) Nomadic/temporary fixed links (eg. news vans, portable cameras) Fixed/temporary receiving stations (eg. collection stations) |
Fixed links
(Fixed links authorise communications between two fixed stations operating at known locations. They are used for a range of services, for example telecommunications backhaul, or program distribution.) |
Long term availability dependent on possible future introduction of mobile satellite services (MSS) and if arrangements can be developed that support long term ENG use in capital cities with MSS restricted to remote/regional areas
Clearance of a number of fixed links – mostly located in regional and/or remote areas. In capital city areas usable spectrum reduced by at least 5 MHz due to adjacent band wireless access services. In Perth & Canberra, operation in 2170-2200 MHz restricted by coordination with adjacent band earth stations. |
| 2010-2025 MHz | ||
|---|---|---|
| Potential ENG Use | Incumbent Services | Limitations |
| Airborne (eg. helicopters)
Mobile (eg. handheld wireless cameras, vehicle mounted cameras) Nomadic/temporary fixed links (eg. news vans, portable cameras) Fixed/temporary receiving stations (eg. collection stations) |
Fixed links | Clearance of fixed links. Many of these links overlap the 2025-2110 MHz band, so clearance issues may be resolved when developing arrangements for that band. |
| 2025-2110 MHz and 2200-2300 MHz | ||
|---|---|---|
| Airborne receivers
Airborne transmitters (only 2025-2110 MHz) Mobile (eg. handheld wireless cameras, vehicle mounted cameras) Nomadic/temporary fixed links (eg. news vans, portable cameras) Fixed/temporary receiving stations (eg. collection stations) |
Earth stations
Aeronautical mobile telemetry (2200-2300 MHz) Fixed links Radio-astronomy |
Clearance of fixed links within at least 300km of capital city ENG receiving stations and additional Australia wide clearance to provide dedicated spectrum in regional/remote areas.
In Perth & Canberra ENG operation will be restricted by coordination with earth stations. ENG operations not consider viable in Perth until exiting earth station relocates No airborne transmitters in the band 2200-2300 MHz to protect earth station receivers. In Adelaide, Perth & Sydney ENG operation is not feasible when in defence aeronautical services in 2200-2300 MHz are operating. In capital city areas usable spectrum reduced by at least 10 MHz due to adjacent band wireless access services (2110-2170 MHz & 2302-2400 MHz). |
In addition to access to the bands described above, ENG operators would continue to have Australia-wide access to a part of the 2.5 GHz band.
| 2570-2620 MHz (part of the 2.5 GHz band) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Potential ENG Use | Incumbent Services | Limitations |
| Airborne
Mobile Nomadic/temporary fixed links Fixed/temporary receiving stations |
ENG
Fixed links |
In capital city areas guard band requirement between 5-10 MHz with future adjacent band wireless access services. |
To read this report in full, see:
www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_312015