The Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA) has published feedback on its preliminary views on spectrum covered by expiring spectrum licences. The spectrum in question underpins mobile markets and is used for coverage of live news and public transport services. Spectrum licences across a range of bands will expire between June 2028 and October 2032.
According to the ACMA, most of the licences in this process underpin Australia’s 3 public mobile networks. These networks are operated by Optus, Telstra and TPG Telecom. Around 30 million mobile phone services in Australia make use of these and similar networks for business and personal use.
The Authority says, “A combination of flexible, nation-wide licences, and smaller-scale licences, issued by the ACMA have enabled between 96 and 99.5% of the Australian population to be covered by a mobile network. Some of the licences in this expiring licence process have taken Australia from 2G to 5G, and are now intended to be used for future 6G services and direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications.
“Licences for mobile services should be renewed in most cases, and we want to do
more for Australians in unserved areas We have determined that these licences have promoted, and will likely continue to promote, the long-term public interest. We have also seen no evidence of alternative uses for this spectrum that would convince us that these licences should be returned to the market.
“Where licences are being used for wide-area wireless broadband networks, our preliminary
view is that they should be renewed. We want to retain the current and future benefits of the national licensing model, while also making better use of unused or under-utilised spectrum for place-based services in regional areas.”
The ACMA also holds the view that licences delivering the wireless component of Australia’s NAtional Broadband Network (NBN) should be renewed and that renewed mobile service and NBN licences should have durations of between 11 and 16 years.
As part of the process, the ACMA has proposed to align expiry dates for the spectrum licences with those applying to spectrum licences in the 850 MHz, 900 MHz and 3.7 GHz bands that are outside this process. This will result in all spectrum licences used for mobile and fixed wireless broadband by these operators will expire in 2044.
In the case of Spectrum licences authorising rail communications in the five Australian capital cities, and those facilitating breaking news coverage and other out-of-studio broadcasts, the Authority says, “Changes in technology, service delivery and a range of factors relating to use of the spectrum, mean that different frameworks would be more appropriate. Our preliminary view is that apparatus licences will allow rail operators to continue to operate in their current spectrum, and transition to new 5G-based systems using different spectrum over the next decade.
“Similarly, apparatus licences will also allow more users to share spectrum with broadcasters, without adversely affecting services or consumers.”
In response to the proposals, industry body Free TV says it is committed to constructive engagement with mobile network operators about TV spectrum requirements and appreciates the support from mobile network operators for the Television Outside Broadcast (TOB) use-case in the 2.5 GHz ‘mid-band gap’.
According to Free TV, “The submissions from Telstra, AMTA and Optus each reflect the legitimate, long-term interest of mobile network operators in the future use of 2.5 GHz. This interest can and should be addressed without imposing requirements on TOB operators that strike the wrong balance between predictability and flexibility.
“The risk of band fragmentation in areas where TOB does not require 2.5 GHz spectrum, and its implications for long-term carrier use of 2.5 GHz, could be further explored as part of the foreshadowed ACMA process that will precede migration of TOB at 2.5 GHz to apparatus licensing.”
Stage 4 of ACMA’s expiring spectrum licence process – preferred views, renewal application and decision-making – is scheduled to take place in Q4 2025.
Visit https://www.acma.gov.au