ARLA/CLUSTER: Cotação do espectro radioelectrico, radioamadores australianos podem perder o acesso aos 2,3 GHz

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Proposed re-allocation of 2.3 GHz band

 Last week, the Australian regulator, the ACMA, informed the Wireless
Institute of Australia (WIA) of proposed changes to spectrum usage in
 the 2.3 GHz band, which will result in Advanced Licensees losing
access to 2300 – 2304 MHz.

 The ACMA proposes to acquire the spectrum for LTE radio purposes.
LTE, or long-term evolution, (marketed as 4G LTE), is a wireless
standard for high-speed data over mobile phones and data terminals.

 The proposed change gives LTE services the full 100MHz segment from
2300 – 2400MHz, or twenty 5MHz LTE channels, and naturally the
government revenue from any resulting spectrum auction would be very
significant, conservatively estimated at about $100M.

 Losing any spectrum is always a great concern to radio amateurs.

 This secondary allocation spectrum is the only viable option for
Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) contacts to Region II (where the EME activity
is on 2304 MHz) or Region I (which uses 2320 MHz).

Australian radio amateur EME activity would then be confined to 2400
MHz and above, where ISM and Wi-Fi equipment is likely to cause
unacceptable interference.

 The ACMA plans to recommend the change to the Minister for Broadband,
 Communications and the Digital Economy, and make the changes under
section 153B of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

If the Minister approves the change radio amateurs will probably lose
access to the spectrum in 2015.

 However, before making such a recommendation to the Minister the ACMA
is required to undertake extensive consultation with stakeholders, and
has prepared the consultation paper.

The ACMA will also be writing to all Advanced Amateur Radio Operators
(who are affected by this proposal) to provide them with a copy of the
notice and inviting their comments.

 A link to the consultation paper is in a news item on the home page
of the WIA website (wia.org.au). Radio amateurs are encouraged to
forward their comments to the ACMA by Wednesday 27th March 2013.

 The WIA is also particularly keen to hear of people who are using the
2.3GHz spectrum. If you are using 2.3GHz please send an email to the
WIA with some brief details of your activity in that band.

 Phil Wait, VK2ASD
Wireless Institute of Australia