The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a draft of a new Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan (the Spectrum Plan) for public comment. When completed, the new Spectrum Plan is intended to replace the current Spectrum Plan developed in January 2005.

The proposed changes in the draft Spectrum Plan provide new spectrum opportunities for international mobile telecommunication, space research activities, radio astronomy, mobile-satellite services and harmonisation between space and future terrestrial services. The changes were agreed internationally at the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference held in October to November 2007.

‘Adopting these proposed changes will allow Australian spectrum users to benefit from these international changes,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

Changes have also been proposed to reflect domestic developments, mainly associated with enhancing future flexibility for anticipated growth in radiocommunication services in Australian.

The proposed changes to the plan will provide:

protection of space research activities while allowing the use of new high data-rate meteorology satellite services;

upgrade of the radiolocation service to primary and allocating additional spectrum to the existing space research activities;

sharing between the mobile-satellite service and space research services and between the mobile-satellite service and mobile service;

improvements to the satellite coordination and notification procedures;

spectrum harmonisation between space services and future terrestrial services;

sharing arrangements between the fixed service and satellite systems using highly inclined orbits; and

spectrum compatibility between the radio astronomy service and the active space services.

Comments on the draft plan should be received by ACMA by Friday, 3 October 2008. The proposed changes are scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2009.

Detailed information about the changes can be found on the ACMA website, and copies of the draft plan are available from ACMA by contacting Stewart White at stewart.white@acma.gov.au or via telephone: (02) 6219 5345.