Summary and key findings This document is the summary report from a research study on spectrum-management mechanisms, which the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) commissioned from Analysys Mason. The objectives of the study were to: understand the application of best spectrum-management practices globally, and identify approaches that might offer benefits in the Australian market context and priorities for spectrum-management reform in Australia. Background to the study The existing legislation for spectrum management in Australia (i.e. the Radiocommunications Act of 1992) has been in place for 25 years. Over this period, the ACMA has progressively migrated towards market-based mechanisms for spectrum assignment, including the use of auctions, incentive (opportunity cost) pricing and secondary trading. Recently, trends such as growing demand for spectrum, advances in wireless technologies and changing global supply chains (with expectations of rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT)) have emerged, prompting a need to consider changes to the spectrum-management framework. New spectrum-management legislation is now being implemented to replace the 1992 Act, giving the ACMA new powers and allowing it to respond to rapid changes in market demand and the latest developments in wireless technology, including trends towards more dynamic operation of wireless systems. The ACMA’s latest five-year spectrum outlook (FYSO), published in 2016, envisaged implementation of the government’s spectrum reforms and the new legislation, and set out a work plan for the next five years, focusing on: spectrum for mobile broadband (MBB) and further evolution of networks to 5G, growth of the IoT and the use of technological solutions for spectrum sharing such as dynamic spectrum access (DSA). A summary of these key priorities is provided in Figure 1 below. Figure : The ACMA’s priorities in its five-year spectrum plan [Source: ACMA, 2016] The draft new legislation was published for consultation on 18 May 2017, along with a package of consultation proposals from the Department of Communications and the ACMA. A key feature of the new legislation is migration to a single licensing system, the overall aims being to give the ACMA greater flexibility to adapt the issuing of licences and licence conditions to meet the demands of new technologies, and to improve the scope for changes of spectrum use to occur. The inclusion of a authorisations’ option could potentially create opportunities for different ‘spectrum applications with different requirements for spectrum access to co-exist in the same spectrum. This
Summary and key findings This document is the summary report from a research study on spectrum-management mechanisms, which the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) commissioned from Analysys Mason. The objectives of the study were to: understand the application of best spectrum-management practices globally, and identify approaches that might offer benefits in the Australian market context and priorities for spectrum-management reform in Australia. Background to the study The existing legislation for spectrum management in Australia (i.e. the Radiocommunications Act of 1992) has been in place for 25 years. Over this period, the ACMA has progressively migrated towards market-based mechanisms for spectrum assignment, including the use of auctions, incentive (opportunity cost) pricing and secondary trading. Recently, trends such as growing demand for spectrum, advances in wireless technologies and changing global supply chains (with expectations of rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT)) have emerged, prompting a need to consider changes to the spectrum-management framework. New spectrum-management legislation is now being implemented to replace the 1992 Act, giving the ACMA new powers and allowing it to respond to rapid changes in market demand and the latest developments in wireless technology, including trends towards more dynamic operation of wireless systems. The ACMA’s latest five-year spectrum outlook (FYSO), published in 2016, envisaged implementation of the government’s spectrum reforms and the new legislation, and set out a work plan for the next five years, focusing on: spectrum for mobile broadband (MBB) and further evolution of networks to 5G, growth of the IoT and the use of technological solutions for spectrum sharing such as dynamic spectrum access (DSA). A summary of these key priorities is provided in Figure 1 below. Figure : The ACMA’s priorities in its five-year spectrum plan [Source: ACMA, 2016] The draft new legislation was published for consultation on 18 May 2017, along with a package of consultation proposals from the Department of Communications and the ACMA. A key feature of the new legislation is migration to a single licensing system, the overall aims being to give the ACMA greater flexibility to adapt the issuing of licences and licence conditions to meet the demands of new technologies, and to improve the scope for changes of spectrum use to occur. The inclusion of a ‘spectrum authorisations’ option could potentially create opportunities for different applications with different requirements for spectrum access to co-exist in the same spectrum. This
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