Given the importance of aligning domestic technical arrangements with larger overseas markets so that economies of scale can be achieved and ensuring coexistence with global services such as passive earth observation, the ACMA is looking closely to international developments, particularly in Europe, to assist in determining what conditions are appropriate to consider in any Australian release of the band. In and April 2018, the Electronic Communication Committee of CEPT (ECC) consulted on a draft decision titled Harmonised technical conditions for Mobile/Fixed Communications Networks (MFCN) in the band 24.25-27.5 GHz. This draft decision addressed sharing and compatibility conditions to ensure coexistence with other spectrum users and included technical conditions to achieve this coexistence. It was previously thought that clarity on some key technical coexistence considerations, particularly regarding compatibility with the earth exploration satellite service (EESS) would be resolved in Europe during the first half of 2018, which would have informed domestic considerations in roughly the same period. However, outcomes of the European process are now not expected until sometime in mid-2018. This lack of clarity and uncertainty has contributed to the decision by the ACMA not to progress consideration of the band as fast as contemplated in last year’s FYSO. (See also discussion in the Forward allocation work plan for further details). Next steps The ACMA is considering what an accelerated process for the 26 GHz band would look like. This includes thinking into a range of potential options for both what should be allocated, in terms of specific frequencies and areas, and how the band should be allocated, in terms of which licence types should be adopted to meet a range of potentially varying wireless broadband use cases.
Given the importance of aligning domestic technical arrangements with larger overseas markets so that economies of scale can be achieved and ensuring coexistence with global services such as passive earth observation, the ACMA is looking closely to international developments, particularly in Europe, to assist in determining what conditions are appropriate to consider in any Australian release of the band. In and April 2018, the Electronic Communication Committee of CEPT (ECC) consulted on a draft decision titled Harmonised technical conditions for Mobile/Fixed Communications Networks (MFCN) in the band 24.25-27.5 GHz. This draft decision addressed sharing and compatibility conditions to ensure coexistence with other spectrum users and included technical conditions to achieve this coexistence. It was previously thought that clarity on some key technical coexistence considerations, particularly regarding compatibility with the earth exploration satellite service (EESS) would be resolved in Europe during the first half of 2018, which would have informed domestic considerations in roughly the same period. However, outcomes of the European process are now not expected until sometime in mid-2018. This lack of clarity and uncertainty has contributed to the decision by the ACMA not to progress consideration of the band as fast as contemplated in last year’s FYSO. (See also discussion in the Forward allocation work plan for further details). Next steps The ACMA is considering what an accelerated process for the 26 GHz band would look like. This includes thinking into a range of potential options for both what should be allocated, in terms of specific frequencies and areas, and how the band should be allocated, in terms of which licence types should be adopted to meet a range of potentially varying wireless broadband use cases.
18-18-0074-00-0000-acma-draft-five-year-spectrum-outlook-2018-22.docx