More spectrum for wireless broadband services, at 2.5GHz

Stuart Corner
Friday, 22 October 2010 11:00

IT Policy - Regulation

The ACMA has announced the result of its long running review of 2.5GHz spectrum, presently used for electronic newsgathering but allocated internationally for wireless broadband, and eagerly sought after by Australia's mobile operators.

The ACMA is proposing to retain parts of the band for electronic news gathering and says a range of other bands will be made available to maintain electronic news gathering service delivery equivalence to that currently provided.

ACMA chairman, Chris Chapman, said: "This decision provides long-term certainty for the current incumbent licensees in the 2.5GHz band, while nonetheless opening up the band for wireless access services and aligning Australia with international standards."

According to Chapman, "The retention of the mid-band gap for ENG-use is a world-first initiative - and, in combination with access to alternate bands, should ensure the continued provision of important news services to all Australians."

The ACMA says its proposed outcome is consistent with the preferred approach put forward in its discussion paper: "Review of the 2.5 GHz (2500-2690 MHz) band and long-term arrangements for ENG," released on 12 January 2010, to which it received 42 submissions.

The ACMA has announced its decision in a 'response to submissions' paper, saying: "the ACMA recognises that implementing new arrangements in the 2.5GHz band and providing long-term certainty for ENG services will affect a range of very important sectors in the Australian economy. Those sectors include television broadcasters - free-to-air and subscription - and the telecommunications and space industries, as well as the Department of Defence."

Chapman said the decision the ACMA taken was "the culmination of a number of consultation processes conducted over the last five years'¦[and] represents a balanced approach which attempts to meaningfully address the competing concerns of affected parties."

He said there were still a number of important issues to be resolved, ranging from developing sharing arrangements in the other bands through to the timing of a price-based allocation for parts of the 2.5GHz band, and ENG operators would not be able to relocate from the 2.5 GHz band until suitable arrangements had been made in the other bands.

'We are very appreciative of and informed by the contributions provided to us to date and we hope that stakeholders will continue to engage constructively with us throughout the implementation phase,' Mr Chapman said, adding that the complexity of the issues to be resolved, particularly in the development of appropriate arrangements in bands other than 2.5 GHz, meant the implementation phase is expected to continue over several years.

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