The revolution in
spectrum
David Brumfield
Executive Manager
Spectrum Management Policy Branch
ACMA
Key messages
> Really two revolutions
> 1. a revolution in use intensity; and
> 2. a revolution in regulation.
> Always changes in use, but the nature of use is also changing
> Changes in regulation creates opportunities
> Leads to key operator decisions on resource use – Buy, rent,
share, do something else.
Spectrum fundamentals
What is ‘spectrum’ in the context of spectrum management?
> The part of the non-ionising electromagnetic (EM) spectrum practically
useful for communications and sensing
> Under the Radiocommunications Act a radio emission is an emission of
electromagnetic energy of frequencies less that 420 THz without
continuous artificial guide…
> The Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan identifies allocations from
8.3 kHz to 275 THz
>
use concentrated between 500 KHz (AM radio) and 5 GHz
Spectrum Fundamentals - Rules of thumb
Lower frequencies generally propagate better and
therefore provide better coverage
Higher frequencies provide greater bandwidth and
therefore provide better capacity
Spectrum ‘sweet spot’: the frequency range where both
good coverage and capacity is possible:
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Roughly 300 MHz to 3 GHz*
Trend to move to higher bands
Rail use of spectrum
> The Rail industry are already key spectrum users
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class licensed band 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz for CCTV
1800 MHz for GSM/R or LTE
2.1 GHz for control and safety of remote services
Extensive and varied use across the 400 MHz band
> Use is likely to grow. Will it be through the Internet of Things
(IoT)? Intelligent transport systems at 5.9 GHz?
Intensity of use - The march of mobile broadband
Year
Generation
Frequencies
Bandwidth
1992
2G GSM
850/900 MHz
About 2 x 45 MHz
2000
3G EVO/HSPA
2000 MHz
About 2x 60 MHz
2009
4G LTE
700 MHz,1800
MHz, 2500 MHz
About 2 x 190 MHz
plus reuse of
above plus TDD
spectrum in 2.3
GHz and 3.5 GHz
2018 -22
5G
?? All of the above
plus 28 GHz?
3.5GHz? 1.5GHz?
Over 1 GHz of
bandwidth each
Radiocommunications Licensing
> Class
> ‘public park’, ‘spectrum commons’
> Apparatus
> ‘a permission to operate a transmitter or group
of transmitters’
> Spectrum
> ‘rights in bandwidth over geography
New regulation – A new Radiocommunications Act
> Exposure draft later this year.
> The spectrum review consultation recommendations aim to
further enhance the innovative potential of spectrum by, among
other things:
> creating simpler, more flexible spectrum management
arrangements;
> providing for greater market-based activity, including increasing
the opportunity for spectrum holders to share and trade
spectrum; and
> clarifying the role for Government, the ACMA and spectrum users.
Opportunities for spectrum users
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Consolidated government users
centralised management at State level or industry level
Sharing
Current regime sharing:
Coordinated apparatus licence, lease in spectrum licence,
easement, class licence use
New regime sharing:
Technical sharing, software defined, smart sensing
User defined sharing, private parks
Public interest use via Ministerial Policy Statements
Sharing for rail
> 1800 MHz (GSM-R/LTE) – spectrum licensed in
metro, apparatus licence in remote (non-held in
regional).
> Four jurisdictions (WA, Vic, NSW and Qld)
have 2x15 MHz, 1 Jurisdiction (SA) has 2x10
MHz
> All jurisdictions have the following condition on
2x10 MHz of their 1800 MHz licences:
> “This licence only authorises the operation of
radiocommunications devices for the purpose of
the provision of rail safety and control
communications.”
Conclusions
> Understand the landscape and the trends
> Plan early
> Understand the technical options for your applications
> Be prepared to be flexible
> push vendors for flexibility.