Following a ministerial decision to convert apparatus licences held by broadcasters in the mid gap of the 2.5/2.6 GHz band (2570-2620 MHz) to spectrum licences, the Australian regulator is consulting on how this should be done. The Australian Media and Communications Authority has published a consultation document and is seeking… Read more...

The Australian regulator has published a set of draft rules for the biggest spectrum auction scheduled in the country for more than ten years. The rules consist of two parts, the allocation instruments and the technical instruments. The allocation instruments, which will provide the legal basis of the auction, consist… Read more...

Australian regulator ACMA has published a discussion paper that investigates the potential use of the 1.5 GHz band for mobile broadband services. The paper is intended to gather information and industry views on the suitability of options for the potential replanning of the 1.5 GHz mobile band for mobile broadband. The regulator… Read more...

The Australian regulator has launched a consultation on future uses for the 28 and 31 GHz bands (27.5–28.35 GHz and 31–31.3 GHz) where licences expire in January 2014. The ACMA says it is reviewing licensing arrangements in the bands "so that future arrangements will maximise the overall public benefit from use… Read more...

The Australian regulator, ACMA has issued a consultation on its proposal to remake its legislative instruments for the 2 GHz band.  ACMA's current instruments expire in October next year, but ACMA wants to maintain these instruments without significant changes. Read more...

The Australian regulator has released the first in a planned series of discussion documents giving its proposals to develop a future spectrum management strategy to meet the long-term needs of the mobile broadband industry while ensuring the needs of incumbent users are also taken into account. The paper looks at… Read more...

The Australian telecoms and broadcast regulator has issued a consultation document addressing the issue of non-compliance with the country's current Earth receive station licensing requirements. The document identifies areas of non-compliance and addresses potential solutions before providing an analysis of the ACMA's preferred approach against its "Principles of Spectrum Management".… Read more...

Following its strategy plan for the 1800 MHz band which was released in October 2012, the Australian regulator has issued the first of three planned consultation documents and invited stakeholders to respond to each as they are published, although the final one is not expected to be released until June… Read more...

The ACMA has issued a consultation on auctioning spectrum in the frequency ranges 1725–1785 MHz and 1820–1880 MHz in regional Australia. The auction will also include unallocated spectrum from the recently completed expiring spectrum licence process for the 1800 MHz band (‘residual lots’). The ACMA is inviting written comments from stakeholders on the draft… Read more...

As part of its move towards spectrum-efficient technologies, the Australian regulator is consulting on its proposals to allow mobile operators to deploy femtocells using existing apparatus licences which authorise use of  specific devices.  Femtocells have been deployed in spectrum-licensed areas, usually covering urban areas, at 2.1 GHz since 2011. The… Read more...