What are spectrum embargoes?
Spectrum embargoes are an administrative tool used to facilitate orderly spectrum planning. Embargoes provide notice of the ACMA's intention to restrict the allocation of new licences in a band, pending its replanning. They also serve to alert industry to the start of a planning process.
An embargo includes details of the frequency band, date of effect, coverage area, time frame, instructions, reasons and supplementary comments.
Embargoes are used in conjunction with other administrative and planning tools.
When does the ACMA apply embargoes?
The ACMA applies embargoes at the start of a planning or replanning process to ensure that the status of a band remains stable for the duration of the planning process.
Replanning usually results in a change in use or a change in the mix of uses of a band. Embargoes are also necessary to minimise the dislocation of affected services that would otherwise occur and to allow for future developments in a band.
How does the ACMA advise of new embargoes?
The ACMA places a notice about the creation of a new embargo and a link to its contents on its website.
Why doesn't the ACMA consult before applying an embargo?
The ACMA does not consult or provide notice before applying an embargo. This is to prevent any major changes to the number of frequency assignments that may result from advance notice of the ACMA's intention to place an embargo on a band.
Embargoes signal the start of a planning process. As outlined above, it is preferable that the status of a band remains stable during the planning process.
The ACMA consults with incumbent band users and other stakeholders at a number of stages during a planning process. The ACMA considers the views of all stakeholders before making decisions about future arrangements for a band.
More information about the ACMA's approach to radiofrequency planning can be found on the ACMA's website.
As discussed below, the ACMA considers applications for frequency assignments in embargoed bands on a case-by-case basis.
Exceptions to embargoes
Exceptions may be made to an embargo where there is sufficient justification. All applications for frequency assignments in embargoed bands should be forwarded to the Manager, Spectrum Engineering Section for consideration on a case-by-case basis.
RALI MS03
The ACMA's Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instruction (RALI) MS03: Spectrum Embargoes provides the administrative policy basis for spectrum embargoes.
RALI MS03 contains a list of all current and withdrawn embargoes. A summary of this information is also provided below.
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Download: a complete copy of RALI MS03: Spectrum Embargoes (Word, 648 KB) |
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Download: boundary data for all embargo areas: Google Earth Placemark or Shapefile (zipped). Note: refer to About embargo areas before using the embargo boundary data. |
Current Embargoes (extracts from RALI MS03): [Please note the following documents are available in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word]
|
Frequency Band |
Embargo Number |
Comment |
|---|---|---|
|
5900-5950 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
5950-6200 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
7100-7300 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
7300-7350 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
9400-9500 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
9500-9900 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
11600-11650 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
11650-12050 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
12050-12100 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
13570-13600 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
13600-13800 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
13800-13870 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
15100-15600 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
15600-15800 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
17480-17550 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
17550-17900 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
18900-19020 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
21450-21850 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
25670-26100 kHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
100 MHz-25.25 GHz |
Revised Apr 2007 |
|
|
168-174 MHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
403-403.9875 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
403-520 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
405.0125-406 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
406.1-408.6375 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
406.11875-406.61875 MHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
408.11875-408.61875 MHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
408.6375-409.0375 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
409.0375-410.5375 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
410.5375-412.4625 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
412.4625-413.4375 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
414.4625-415.5625 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
415.5625-418.0875 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
415.56875-416.06875 MHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
417.56875-418.06875 MHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
418.0875-418.4875 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
418.4875-420 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
420-420.75 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
421.25-424.75 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
425.25-427.75 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
428.25-430 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
450-450.4875 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
452.5-453 MHz |
Revised Jul 2011 |
|
|
452.5-457.50625 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
452.5-457.50625 MHz |
Revised Jul 2011 |
|
|
457.5-459.9875 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
462-462.5 MHz |
Revised Jul 2011 |
|
|
462-467.50625 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
462.5-467.50625 MHz |
Revised Jul 2011 |
|
|
467.5-469.9875 MHz |
Revised Apr 2010 |
|
|
469.4875-469.9875 MHz |
Revised Jul 2011 |
|
|
469.9875-476.4125 MHz |
Revised Jul 2011 |
|
|
469.99375-518 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
477.41875-484.79375 MHz |
Revised Jul 2011 |
|
|
485.19375-489.99375 MHz |
Revised Jul 2011 |
|
|
500.99375-504.99375 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
510.99375-514.99375 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
518-520 MHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
703-748 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
758-803 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
803-825 MHz |
Created Dec 2011 |
|
|
825-845 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
845-870 MHz |
Created Dec 2011 |
|
|
870-890 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
890-960 MHz |
Created Dec 2011 |
|
|
1710-1785 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
1710-1785 MHz |
Created Jan 2011 |
|
|
1805-1880 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
1805-1880 MHz |
Created Jan 2011 |
|
|
1900-1980 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
1980-2010 MHz |
Revised May 2012 |
|
|
2010-2110 MHz |
Revised May 2012 |
|
|
2025-2100 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
2100-2130 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
2110-2170 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
2170-2200 MHz |
Revised May 2012 |
|
|
2200-2280 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
2200-2300 MHz |
Revised May 2012 |
|
|
2280-2310 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
| 2300-2302 MHz | 65 - PDF (133 KB), Placemark |
Created Sept 2012 |
|
2302-2400 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
2500-2570 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
2570-2620 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
2620-2690 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
3400-3575 MHz |
Revised Nov 2009 |
|
|
3400-4200 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
3425-3492.5 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
3492.5-3542.5 MHz |
Created Jan 2011 |
|
|
3542.5-3575 MHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
3575-3710 MHz |
Revised Sept 2009 |
|
|
3600-3700 MHz |
Revised Nov 2009 |
|
|
5725-5850 MHz |
Revised Sept 2007 |
|
|
5850-5925 MHz |
Created Apr 2008 |
|
|
5850-7075 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
7135-7200 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
7250-7750 MHz |
Created Sept 2007 |
|
|
7250-7750 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
7250-7750 MHz |
Created Jun 2010 |
|
|
7900-8390 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
7900-8400 MHz |
Created Sept 2007 |
|
|
7900-8400 MHz |
Created Jun 2010 |
|
|
8390-8460 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
8460-8500 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
8540-8660 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
10700-14800 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
15349-15410 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
15430-15630 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
17200-21400 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
22200-22510 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
24750-25250 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
25500-31000 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
33400-36000 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
37500-43500 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
47200-51400 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
52590-59300 MHz |
Created Apr 2009 |
|
|
10.95-12.75 GHz |
Created Sept 2007 |
|
|
13.75-14.50 GHz |
Created Sept 2007 |
|
|
26.5-27.5 GHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
27.5-28.35 GHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
|
|
31-31.3 GHz |
Revised Sept 2012 |
