The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) wants the Government to re-allocate and auction spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, which in regional areas is often used for carrier backhaul. This spectrum is already used for 4G mobile phones in the city.

The ACMA has invited comment on a draft recommendation it intends to make to the Department of Communications about the reallocation of s1800 MHz spectrum in regional areas.

The organisation is the custodian of the allocation of Australia’s radiofrequency bandwidth. It is a constant juggling act – technologies and priorities change, but the amount of available spectrum remains the same.

The ACMA says that the increasing worldwide availability of 4G mobile telecommunications technology using the 1800 MHz band has led to an increasing demand for access to it in regional areas. “The demand is regional areas is coming from various industry sectors, including telecommunications carriers, mining and energy companies as well as railway authorities to deploy 4G communications networks and smart infrastructure systems across regional Australia,” said ACMA chairman Chris Chapman.

“Spectrum-licensed access to the 1800 MHz band would benefit various industry sectors in Australia and, ultimately, citizens and consumers, who would enjoy the flow on economic and social benefits from international harmonisation of this band and equipment economies of scale,” he said.

Spectrum in the regional 1800 MHz band (ranges 1725-1785 MHz and 1820–1880 MHz) is currently subject to apparatus licensing and is used mainly for fixed links. “Those licensing arrangements in the band are not able to accommodate potential future uses of the band, such as the delivery of mobile services to regional Australia,” Chapman said.

“The release of the terms of the draft reallocation recommendation marks the first legislative step in reallocating the regional 1800 MHz band for new uses. The ACMA is committed to consultation, cooperation and collaboration on spectrum matters.

“I encourage all interested stakeholders, particularly those who hold apparatus licensees in the regional 1800 MHz band, to review the terms of the draft recommendation and consider providing a submission to the ACMA.”

Chapman said the ACMA will consider all comments received on the terms of the draft recommendation before making a final recommendation to the Minister for Communications, Malcolm Turnbull.

“If the Minister accepts the ACMA’s proposed recommendation and makes a reallocation declaration in relation to the regional 1800 MHz band, the ACMA intends to allocate the spectrum by auction.

The ACMA invites written comments from potentially-affected apparatus licensees and other interested stakeholders on the terms of the draft recommendation and other matters raised in the discussion paper by 11 March 2015. The discussion paper, ‘Draft spectrum reallocation recommendation for the 1800 MHz band – Regional areas of Australia’, is available here.