900 MHz Review Project Plan

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has commenced a review of arrangements in the radiofrequency band from 820 to 960 MHz (known as the 900 MHz band). The 900 MHz band is used for a wide range of services including, inter alia, cellular mobile telephone and land mobile services. The review will also consider possible expansion of the 900 MHz band to include the upper part of the Digital Dividend which is not included in the initial 700 MHz band allocation. The use of the 900 MHz band is authorised under the 900 MHz Band Plan (the Band 1 Plan). The Band Plan is a frequency band plan created under section 32 (1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992. The creation of the Band Plan in 1992 was intended to facilitate the introduction of public mobile telecommunications competition in Australia, and, in particular, to provide spectrum allocations for cordless telephone services including public access cordless telephone services. It also assisted in the transition from AMPS to digital cellular mobile telephone services using GSM technology. The Band Plan was updated in June 1997 to improve the utility of the digital mobile telephone bands, and in July 1999 to remove conditions that had the potential to inhibit the implementation of the Government's program for the closure of the analog mobile telephone service.

Drivers for the review

The ACMA has been monitoring use of the 900 MHz band and a number of significant potential improvements to the way the band is assigned would now appear to be 2 possible. A number of submissions to the ACMAs Five-year Spectrum Outlook outlined suggestions for improving arrangements in the band. It is the ACMAs view that the potential benefit that may be realised by improving the management of the 900 MHz band provides the policy basis to consider replanning the band at this time. Additional opportunities have arisen from both the Government and the ACMAs consideration of the Digital Dividend. The Australian Government announced on 24 June 2010 its decision to release 126 MHz of broadcasting 3 spectrum as a Digital Dividend in the frequency range 694 to 820 MHz. However, the current draft plan for a harmonised Region 3 Digital Dividend arrangement only extends to 803 MHz with a 3 MHz guard band extending to 806 MHz. This corresponds with the upper boundary of broadcasting arrangements in other Asia Pacific countries. Consequently, this arrangement provides the ACMA with a unique opportunity to consider expanding the 900 MHz band to allow other services to operate. The 890-915 MHz paired with 935-960 MHz frequency bands are currently allocated to the digital cellular mobile telephone service (CMTS). The bands are currently planned for GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) with three apparatus licences providing approximately 8.3 MHz bandwidth per licensee. There is scope to replan these bands into bandwidths more suited to emerging technologies, such as HSPA or LTE, and review the existing licensing arrangements. Recent ACMA monitoring data suggests that parts of the band are unused. This stems from the legislative basis of the Band Plan. For example, when the Band Plan was created in 1992, allocations were made in the 857865 MHz and 933935 MHz bands to CT2 and CT3 digital cordless telephone systems and digital short range radio (DSRR) systems. These services are now largely obsolete. However, as the
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Available at: www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_2572 Available at: www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_312080 3 See www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2010/062

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allocations to these technologies are provided for in legislation, the ACMA cannot use this spectrum for other technologies unless the legislative Band Plan is amended or 4 revoked. The ACMA has applied spectrum Embargo 34 to the 857859 MHz, 861 865 MHz and 933935 MHz frequency ranges. The purpose of the Embargo is to support replanning activities in the band by preventing any further licensing of CT3 systems or single channel single frequency fixed links.

Objectives of the review of the 900 MHz band

The objectives of the review of the 900 MHz band are to implement measures to: > improve the allocative, technical and dynamic efficiency of arrangements in the band by reviewing the relevant planning and licensing mechanisms; > ensure planning, licensing and pricing arrangements reflect current demands and support the latest technologies; > incorporate spectrum in the upper part of the Digital Dividend which is not being included in the initial 700 MHz band allocation in order to expand services in the 900 MHz band; and > improve the utility and flexibility with which the band is used. The review of the 900 MHz band will explore alternative uses of the 803-820 MHz band. Industry has indicated an interest in expanding the 850 MHz public mobile telecommunications service (PMTS) bands (currently 825-845 MHz paired with 870890 MHz). This approach would potentially involve reallocation of the land mobile segments to PMTS services. On the other hand, other stakeholders have expressed an interest in expanding the existing trunked land mobile segments in the band. It is important to note that the ACMA has not yet made a decision on how the 803820 MHz segment may be used. This issue is subject to further consideration and comment in the review. The review will investigate replanning the 890-915 MHz paired with 935-960 MHz frequency bands to 5 5 MHz paired segments to better suit emerging technologies. Additionally, the licensing arrangements authorising the use of this spectrum will be reviewed to ensure that the band is encouraged to move to its highest value use. In this case, the development of a spectrum licensing arrangement, underpinned by a technology flexible technical framework, may be considered. The ACMA intends to improve the utility with which the 900 MHz band is used by removing obsolete allocations to CT2 and CT3 digital cordless telephone systems and DSRR systems. Options for the future use of this spectrum include making use of the 805-820 MHz band by pairing this spectrum with segments of the existing 900 MHz band. Additionally, the review will analyse the potential for use of some of the unused segments of the band for smart infrastructure services or applications. The ACMA will also reassess the need, or otherwise, for a frequency band plan to authorise the use of this spectrum. This will involve considering the potential of converting the existing frequency band plan to an administrative band plan. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to suggest further issues or elements to be covered in the review in their feedback to the first discussion paper. The spectrum currently authorised via spectrum licences in 825-845 MHz paired with 870-890 MHz frequency bands is outside the scope of the first discussion paper.

RALI MS03Embargo 34, available at: www.acma.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_2712 2 |

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Project timeline
A timeline for the review of the 900 MHz band is provided in the table below. The review will formally commence in 2011 with the release of the first discussion paper scheduled for May 2011 in time for discussion at RadComms2011. The review will include thorough consultation with industry in the form of discussion papers, presentations at ACMA and industry fora and individual meetings with key stakeholders and representative bodies. The ACMA envisages three discussion papers being released during the review; however, the ACMA notes that a fourth discussion paper may be required depending on the reviews progress. The content of the discussion papers will be similar to that in the three discussion papers released in the review of the 400 MHz band. That is, the first discussion paper will outline the ACMAs preliminary thinking and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to provide additional issues to be included in the review. The second paper will provide refined proposals taking into account stakeholder feedback to the first discussion paper. The third or final discussion paper will outline new arrangements and discuss any transitional and implementation issues. Table 1 Project timeline for the review of the 900 MHz band Stage 1 Task First discussion paper Initial investigation and preparation of the first discussion paper Release of the first discussion paper Comments period 2 August 2010 to April 2011 Late April/Early May 2011 May-June 2011 Date

Analysis of submissions to first discussion paper Analysis of submissions and preparation of summary of submissions July-August 2011

Second discussion paper Further investigation, refinement of proposals Q4 2011-Q2 2012 and preparation of the second discussion paper Release of the second discussion paper Q2/Q3 2012 Comments period Q3 2012

Analysis of submissions to second discussion paper Analysis of submissions and preparation of summary of submissions Q3/Q4 2012

Third discussion paper Finalisation of proposed arrangements and preparation of the third discussion paper Release of the third discussion paper Comments period Q1 2012-Q2 2013 Q2 2013 Q2/Q3 2013

Finalisation of new arrangements Final modifications to arrangements Q4 2013/Q1 2014 Release of decisions on planning arrangements Q2 2014

Implementation

Ongoing

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Figure 1 shows the different stages of the 900 MHz review with predicted time frames. The red arrow indicates that the ACMA is currently in the information gathering stage of the review. Stakeholder responses to discussion papers will be used by the ACMA to assist in the process of further developing options and refining proposals for future arrangements in the 900 MHz band. Figure 1 Phases and stages of the 900 MHz review

Project contacts
The review of the 900 MHz band will be coordinated by the Spectrum Engineering Section in the Spectrum Infrastructure Branch of the ACMA. Any enquiries should be directed to: Bridget Lally Senior Radiocommunications Engineer Spectrum Engineering Section Spectrum Infrastructure Branch Australian Communications and Media Authority PO Box 78 Belconnen ACT 2616 Email: 900MHzreview@acma.gov.au

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