Regional and rural Internet users to benefit from new 5.8 GHz licensing option

A new radiocommunications licensing option for the 5.8 GHz spectrum band that will benefit regional and rural Internet users has been announced today by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA).

The new option will allow the ACA to issue fixed point-to-point apparatus licences in the 5.8 GHz band providing opportunities for the roll out of low-cost broadband wireless infrastructure and services in regional and rural areas.

ACA Acting Chairman Allan Horsley said the ACA was responding calls for greater support for wireless broadband deployment in regional and rural areas.

“Internet service providers in these areas have been very keen to access new spectrum opportunities,” he said.
“This new fixed licence option will make that possible.”

Mr Horsley said the new licensing option applied only to high-powered systems in regional and rural areas. The use of lower powered short-range device applications with radiated power levels below 4 watts would continue to be covered by class licences in the 5.8 GHz band.

He said the ACA had taken a minimalist approach to licensing and interference management under the new arrangement. This was because fixed-link licensing in the 5.8 GHz band would be limited to regional and rural areas where the density of radiocommunications usage is relatively low.

“Licences will be issued without formal frequency coordination and will be subject to a ‘no interference, no protection’ licence condition. Licensing charges will be minimal, based on cost recovery,” Mr Horsley said.

The ACA announcement follows a positive response to an ACA discussion paper, released in July 2004, which proposed apparatus licensing of fixed link systems operating at radiated power levels up to 200 watts in regional and rural areas.

The proposal was designed so that the utility of the band for users of short-range, low-power class-licensed devices in larger population areas would be maintained. In regional and rural areas, where the density of radiocommunications use is lower, a balance has been struck between this higher powered apparatus licensing opportunity and the need to continue to provide opportunities for use of class licensed devices.

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