ITWire

It added: "The committee does not have the technical expertise to recommend whether this spectrum should be in the 700MHz band or 800 and 900MHz bands. The committee notes that DBCDE, the ACMA and the Attorney-General's Department are currently engaged in processes examining this question."

Spectrum that could be dedicated to ESOs is primarily the so called digital dividend spectrum that will be freed up by the switch to digital TV transmission, and which is highly sought after by the mobile operators, and spectrum in the 800MHz and 900MHz bands.

The report says: "All of Australia's Police Commissioners from every state and territory and the AFP have agreed that they need 20MHz (10 +10 MHz paired) of this newly available 700MHz band to establish a leading edge network for law enforcement and emergency services agencies."

The Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency advocated for the allocation of 700MHz Digital Dividend spectrum to ESOs on the grounds that 900MHz spectrum would not be available for some time; that equipment for the 800MHz and 900MHz bands is more costly and that 700MHz would ensure international harmonisation, particularly with Europe and the United Kingdom, and the interoperability of Australian police equipment with other police forces on international missions.

However the report said that other ESOs were undecided about what spectrum should be allocated for broadband PPDR in Australia.

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