ACMA is conducting a thorough review of the spectrum and is seeking feedback.Photo: Shutterstock
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says the impending expiry of carriers’ radio frequency spectrum licenses will shape a “vital” spectrum review that will pave the way for 6G mobile services. announced its five-year plan.
The plan, published as the Draft Five-Year Frequency Outlook (FYSO) 2024-29, is now available to the public and includes an in-depth review of policies such as the rules governing the 1.9GHz radio frequency band.
These rules were established to support cordless phones in 1996 under an earlier plan, but were repealed a year ago. It is currently being revised to enable the coexistence of various short-range applications such as wireless concert microphones and railway control systems.
Also on the agenda is the potential future use of the upper 6 GHz frequency band and the allocation of spectrum in the 3.4 GHz to 4.0 GHz range, including an application for an area-wide license for the 3.8 GHz spectrum band. including that it will start soon. This allows businesses to: Use 5G mobile technology to deploy unique high-speed mobile networks in industry, agriculture, and other sectors.
“Spectrum management is not often discussed in Australia, but it plays a huge role in our daily lives,” said Adam Suckling, ACMA Authority Member and Head of Spectrum. This was stated at the launch of the new FYSO.
“Spectrum supports some of the most critical infrastructure that drives business and national economies,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important that we consult as widely as possible about its future use.”
Demand for radio frequency spectrum is driven by Australians’ desire for “advanced connectivity,” including “enhanced network capabilities” including Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, cloud and edge computing, clean energy solutions, and high-speed technologies. FYSO states. This includes 5G mobile, the new Wi-Fi 6, and even new Wi-Fi 7, as well as direct mobile connectivity with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services like Starlink and Amazon’s emerging LEO competitors. Masu.
“The management and allocation of scarce spectrum resources…can have a significant impact on the nature of competition in frequency-dependent downstream markets,” FYSO notes, adding that spectrum holdings are “an important factor in carrier network capacity, service quality, and its potential to enter new regional markets,” he added. “It becomes a key determinant in the competitiveness of carriers.”
6G Spring Cleaning
For all the spectrum housekeeping outlined in the FYSO, the issue is the continued development of 6G mobile services. The service gained momentum after the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) formally announced its IMT-2030 framework in December and began the formal process. Developing 6G technology.
The technology, which ITU believes will “integrate sensing and AI-related capabilities into communications” and “drive the next wave of digital economic growth,” will include ubiquitous intelligence, ubiquitous computing, physical world replication, etc. It is envisioned to support applications such as Digital twin. Smart industrial applications. more.
And while it’s not yet clear what frequency bands 6G will operate on, with the ITU presenting options ranging from frequencies below 1GHz to frequencies above 92GHz, ACMA has confirmed that the technology will be available in Australia. We will have to watch the process closely as it unfolds. Available.
ACMA as nearly three-quarters of the “highly valuable” spectrum licenses that major telecommunications carriers have spent billions of dollars on to provide 3G, 4G and 5G mobile services are due to expire. will be given the opportunity to restructure frequency allocation in anticipation of 6G mobile.
Noting that this is the first time it has been tasked with considering the future of these frequency licenses, the agency calls the upcoming process “one of the most vital issues facing the telecommunications sector over the next decade.” “Tsu” was called.
By shaping the availability of wireless services in different areas (spectrum licenses are typically tied to specific geographic areas), ACMA’s decisions regarding the management of the “finite public resource” that is the radio frequency spectrum; They will be able to shape the availability of wireless services in different areas as well as support government priorities, such as improving wireless services in rural areas.
Improving regional communication was one of a number of priorities set out in ACMA’s Letter of Intent in response to the operational directives issued by the new Albanian government at the end of 2022.
ACMA is not only seeking feedback from existing carriers on plans for licensed spectrum (at a time when the government was considering curbing Telstra’s market power and building its own domestic infrastructure); (This has been a sensitive issue for some time), and would like to hear opinions from “potential new users.” Alternative uses” and how to improve the efficiency and coverage of mobile services to benefit all Australians.
“We are talking about very high-value spectrum that is ideal for powering 5G mobile internet and even 6G as we look ahead to the next decade and beyond,” Suckling said.
“These licenses will significantly shape the future of Australia’s telecommunications landscape, so it’s important that we include as many voices as possible in the decision-making process.”
