The Australian Communications and Media Authority has invited industry feedback on its Five Year Spectrum Outlook 2009-2013, as part of its commitment to keep the five-year snapshot of radiocommunications priority issues current.

The General Manager of ACMA’s Inputs to Industry Division, Giles Tanner, said in a speech to ACMA’s RadComms09 conference today, there were some emerging pressure-points that might warrant inclusion in the next iteration of the Outlook.

Mr Tanner invited submitters to consider what should be ACMA’s spectrum planning priorities once it has finished the planning phase of its current review of the 400 MHz band. ‘For example, some parties in the 400 MHz review have suggested we should take a closer look at the band 380 - 400 MHz to see if it is being used in a way that delivers the maximum social benefit. I would be proposing to reflect this in the next Outlook as something ACMA will look at as soon as resources allow,’ he said

‘Similarly the 800 MHz land mobile and fixed service bands: should a review of these bands, perhaps encompassing a change of use of some of the spectrum, become a priority?

‘Planning within the 900 MHz GSM bands may also be starting to emerge as a priority. The prospect of a move towards a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) may mean that existing planning arrangements could soon be sub-optimal.’

Spectrum for fixed links was another area identified by ACMA for possible comment. ‘One option ACMA could consider would be to auction spectrum in the 11 GHz fixed band so as to allow industry planners to plan more efficiently within their own suite of channels rather than rely on the current planning rules. Another topical issue is whether, given competing uses such as the Public Mobile Telephone Service (PMTS), to preserve spectrum for fixed links around 2 GHz in remote areas to provide cost-effective backhaul to remote communities,’ Mr Tanner said.

Mr Tanner identified the task of ensuring sufficient spectrum for wireless access services as a perennial challenge, driven by the expected burgeoning of demand for broadband data services over the longer-term. ‘Is there potential for reviewing the remaining apparatus-licensed segments of the 3.4-3.6 GHz band to ensure they are being used for their highest value use?’ he asked.

Mr Tanner said his comments were not intended to constrain submitters to these areas.

‘By asking you, the industry, the kinds of hard questions we ask ourselves, it is our hope to develop the five-year Spectrum Outlook further as the site for meaningful discussion and debate around ACMA’s longer-term priorities,’ he said.

The purpose of the Five-year Spectrum Outlook 2009–2013 is to provide transparency for industry about the pressures on spectrum and the likely directions of ACMA’s spectrum management work in the short and medium term, and to foster dialogue with stakeholders about emerging pressures for change to existing spectrum access arrangements.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority released the Five Year Spectrum Outlook 2009 – 2013 on 31 March this year.

Submissions and comments for the next update of the Five Year Spectrum Outlook are due with ACMA by 31 August 2009, with release of the updated Spectrum Outlook expected on 1 January 2010.