Overview
The 26 GHz band was a millimetre wave (mmWave) band considered for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) allocation at the World Radiocommunications Conference in 2019. It is a milestone towards international agreement on the band for 5G wireless broadband technologies.
The Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts has made a declaration reallocating the frequency range 26 GHz (25.1 – 27.5 GHz) band for spectrum licensing in 29 cities and regional centres.
26 GHz band (25.1–27.5 GHz)
Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Allocation — 26 GHz Band) Determination 2020 (November 2020)
Radiocommunications Spectrum Marketing Plan (26 GHz Band) 2020 (November 2020)
Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference — 26 GHz Band) Determination 2020 (November 2020)
Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference to Spectrum Licensed Receivers — 26 GHz Band) 2020 (November 2020)
Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference from Spectrum Licensed Transmitters – 26 GHz Band) 2020 (November 2020)
Radiocommunications (Spectrum Access Charges – 26 GHz Band) Direction 2020 (October 2020)
Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Limits—26 GHz Band) Direction 2020 (August 2020)
Application for 26 GHz band scientific licences (November 2019)
Notice: Radiocommunications (Spectrum re-allocation—26 GHz band) Declaration 2019
Draft spectrum re-allocation recommendation for the 26 GHz band (2019 consultation)
Planning options for the 26 GHz band (2018 consultation)
28 GHz band (27.5–29.5 GHz)
Planning options for the 28 GHz band (2019 consultation)
Channel arrangements in the 28 GHz band
Area-wide apparatus licences (AWL)
Application for area-wide apparatus licensing in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands (October 2020)
Introducing area-wide apparatus licensing (February 2020)
Proposed area-wide apparatus licence (2019 consultation)
Reviews and related information
We have undertaken spectrum reviews and supported planning arrangements of the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands. This will aid the introduction of new technologies in mmWave spectrum for services such as 5G.
The reviews considered current and potential uses of the 26 and 28 GHz bands. In February 2020, we introduced a new area-wide apparatus licence type (AWL) to give spectrum users additional flexibility within the apparatus licensing system.
You can view the reviews below.
Applications for new earth receive stations in the 25.5–27 GHz frequency range
We are aware of interest in building and operating new earth receive stations in the frequency range 25.5–27 GHz to support space research and earth exploration satellite applications. The provisions of RALI MS46 currently only support the operation of earth receive stations in this frequency range at Tidbinbilla, New Norcia and Mingenew (see sections 3.4 and 3.7 of RALI MS46). Outside of those locations, the planning arrangements are intended to support wireless broadband services under an area-wide licence (AWL) or a spectrum licence, and do not provide for the introduction of new earth receive stations.
While we encourage prospective earth receive station operators to first consider Tidbinbilla, New Norcia and Mingenew as part of their planning, due to the certainty that the current arrangements provide at these locations and the additional challenges for locations outside of those areas, we may consider other locations on a case-by-case basis.
Prospective applicants should be aware that they may need their own AWL for protection and/or agreements with existing AWL licensee(s). The geographic size covered by an AWL taken out for protection (or as part of an agreement with another AWL licensee) is to be determined by the applicant based on their interference/protection requirements because, under the current arrangements, there are no coordination arrangements for AWL transmitters with earth station receivers (beyond those for Tidbinbilla, New Norcia and Mingenew). An earth receive licence is still required to authorise operation, as AWLs don’t authorise the operation of receive earth stations.
We encourage prospective applicants to contact the ACMA, via freqplan@acma.gov.au, early in their planning process to discuss specific proposals.
Further information
Five-year spectrum outlook (FYSO)
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