Feedback on the ACMA’s spectrum outlook

FEEDBACK ON

THE ACMA’S SPECTRUM OUTLOOK Jonathan Nally

A consultation on the ACMA’s Five-Year Spectrum Outlook has seen a number of concerns raised and ideas suggested.

The ACMA regularly issues its Five- associated spectrum matters. In response, Year Spectrum Outlook (FYSO) the Authority said that it is “making a sigdocument, which details its spec- nificant amount of spectrum available for trum management work program. 5G and is on track to allocate spectrum in The current draft FYSO spans the the 26 GHz band for spectrum licensing years 2020 to 2024. in early 2021”.

Having called for feedback on the draft, the “Subject to Ministerial consideration, ACMA has published an addendum document we are working towards an auction of that outlines the submissions it received. There 850/900 MHz band spectrum in late 2021. were 49 such submissions from industry, peak Defragmentation of the 3.4 GHz band is also bodies, government agencies and individuals, underway. Apparatus licensing arrangements with the Authority stating that it has “given supporting wireless broadband are also being careful thought to all submissions and incor- developed in a number of bands, including porated submitter reflections into our internal 26 and 28 GHz. This will support industry considerations”. in its continued rollout of 5G networks.

The consultation covered topics such as “A work program to review and, where apthe short- and medium-term effects of the propriate, update existing spectrum licence COVID-19 pandemic, the ACMA’s spectrum technical frameworks to better support 5G work program, technological developments, technologies is underway. This will support replanning of bands and forward allocations. industry in its continued rollout of 5G.”

As a result of the consultation, the ACMA On the topic of local area wireless has added some activities to its work program, broadband (including private LTE and prisuch as investigating Wi-Fi developments and vate 5G), some submissions said that “the needs (including the 6 GHz band) and reaf- ACMA should be doing more to find dedifirming its ongoing consideration of spectrum cated spectrum for uses such as industrial sharing. complexes including factories, enterprises,

Regarding the effects of the COVID-19 ports, mines, petrochemical installations and pandemic, submissions outlined the increased agricultural environments”. telco network demand as a result of changed In response, the ACMA said that it “has work and study patterns. Other submissions released an information paper detailing spec“identified the need for financial assistance trum options currently, or in the process of and support for regional and remote com- being made available for local area private munication and emergency services”. wireless broadband networks. Of note is

Regarding, technological developments, the current review of arrangements in the the ACMA noted great interest in 5G and 3700–4200 MHz band and implementation of class and apparatus licensing arrangements in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands.

“The new FYSO work item looking at possible changes to class and apparatus licences in 1880–1920 MHz band may offer additional opportunities for private and local area wireless broadband purposes.”

The ACMA received many submissions concerned with priorities for proposed band planning activities, covering interests in the satellite, Wi-Fi, private LTE and ITS (automotive) sectors.

“On balance, given current FYSO commitments and industry feedback, we intend to focus on consolidating and delivering the existing work program commitments, with the addition of a small number of new activities,” the ACMA said, listing Wi-Fi, local area wireless broadband/private WBB and ITS as specific points of interest.

There were also submissions about various aspects of the “planning ‘stages’ process used in the FYSO to describe the ACMA process for undertaking major replanning activities,” with the ACMA clarifying its processes and outlining more details within the FYSO.

Another matter raised by some submissions was the topic of pricing; in particular, pricing arrangements for shared spectrum and spectrum used for research purposes. In response, the ACMA said that it is “developing a work program to implement the Spectrum Pricing Review”.

The full FYSO and its addendum can be read at https://www.acma.gov.au/ publications/2020-09/publication/fiveyear-spectrum-outlook-2020-24.