Improving the technical arrangements for AWLs in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands - consultation 04/2022

We received 4 submissions to this consultation, which are available at the bottom of this page. After consideration of the submissions, we have decided to proceed with all the proposed changes, along with several other minor editorial changes to the relevant RALIs. Updated versions of RALI MS44, RALI MS46 and RALI MS03 (embargoes 49 (update) and 79 (lifted)) have now been published, and RALI MS38 is no longer in force.

In December 2020, the ACMA began receiving applications for area-wide apparatus licences (AWLs) in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands. These AWLs authorise access for wireless broadband services and fixed satellite services. RALI MS46 is the key policy document for AWLs in these bands and outlines the rules for issuing AWLs, as well as device coordination requirements.

We recognise that AWLs are a new concept and their implementation in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands is complex. Based on feedback from industry and our internal review, several potential changes to RALI MS46 and other related policy documents have been identified, which aim to improve the understanding and operation of these technical arrangements. In addition, potential changes have been identified that would expand the utility of the AWL arrangements in these bands.

We are consulting on the following proposed changes:

• Incorporating new coordination arrangements around the Mingenew satellite park that would permit access for AWL services in this area. This will include:
  • new coordination arrangements in RALI MS46 for transmitters in the frequency range 25.5–27 GHz (see section 3.7 of the draft RALI MS46)
  • new coordination arrangements in RALI MS44 for AWL receivers in the frequency ranges 24.65–25.25 GHz and 27–29.5 GHz (also highlighting that coordination is not mandatory in 28.1–30 GHz, or in 27.5–28.1 GHz when located outside of defined areas, given AWL receivers in these frequencies/areas are not afforded protection from existing or future earth stations). The proposed minimum earth station elevation angle of 3° is consistent with Article 21.14 of the ITU-R Radio Regulations
  • removing the frequency ranges 24.75–25.25 GHz and 25.5–29.5 GHz from Embargo 49.
• Providing additional information in RALI MS46 about coexistence between devices operating under AWLs that overlap in frequency and area – that is, when 2 AWLs authorise access in a particular area on the same frequency. The proposed changes aim to ensure the AWL issued first-in-time will not be impacted by an overlapping AWL by detailing the scenarios when devices need to be protected, or won’t be afforded protection. This means that in some cases, devices located outside the area or frequency being overlapped will also be captured by these arrangements. A more detailed description is contained in Appendix B of the draft update of RALI MS46. Related changes to the wording of the relevant licence condition and advisory note attached to new AWLs are also proposed – see sections 2.3.4 and 2.4.4, respectively.
• Consolidating arrangements contained in other documents, namely the transfer of:
  • restrictions currently in Embargo 79 to RALI MS46 (so that only AWLs and space receive apparatus licences will be issued in the frequency range 24.7–30 GHz) – see section 2.1 of the draft RALI MS46. This will result in Embargo 79 being suppressed
  • arrangements for coordinating earth stations with fixed links from RALI MS38 into RALI MS46 – see section 3.6 of the draft RALI MS46. This will result in MS38 being suppressed.
• Permitting the AWL area-boundary conditions to be exceeded when there is an active agreement with the affected licensees – see sections 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 of the draft RALI MS46.
• In RALI MS46, permitting the use of more detailed coordination instead of using the prescribed protection ratio tables when coordinating with fixed link receivers. This would entail the use of Frequency Dependent Rejection (FDR) in scenarios when the protection ratio tables might produce overly-conservative sharing results – see Appendix D of the draft RALI MS46).
• Including a requirement in RALI MS46 that fixed outdoor transmitters that are exempt from registration must not be operated unless they are successfully coordinated with the Australian Radio Quiet Zone (as detailed in RALI MS32). This addition aligns with the intent of RALI MS32, which covers permanent transmitters and would mitigate a small risk that these transmitters may cause interference to radioastronomy receivers. This addition is contained in section 3.8 of the draft RALI MS46 and is not expected to have a noticeable impact on the deployment of AWL services in the area.
• Making a range of editorial updates to RALI MS46 to improve the clarity of the document and the understanding of the AWL technical framework. This includes:
  • providing a summary of previous planning decisions in the 26 and 28 GHz bands as background
  • introducing new sections containing the definition of key terms used in the RALI, and an overview of how the technical framework operates
  • providing a reference to RALI MS43 for information relating to coexistence arrangements for SRS earth receive stations in other frequency bands
  • removing the text ‘within a 24 hour window’ from the SRS earth receive station protection requirement and expressing the ‘percent of time not exceeded’ as an input to the propagation model to be used for coordination. These proposed changes will remove the ambiguity with ITU-R Recommendation SA.609-2, which states the percent of time of 0.001% is based on the worst 5 minutes within the worst hour of the year, and are consistent with how the time percentage is specified in other RALIs (for example RALI MS43). The level of protection afforded to SRS earth stations will not be materially altered by these proposed changes
  • clarifying that the registration of receivers is encouraged but not mandatory (as only registered receivers are afforded protection), and that requirements to be met before an AWL receiver can be registered are contained in other RALIs, as applicable
  • reordering the document to better reflect to chronological operation of the technical framework (that is, licence issue before device coordination and registration)
  • removing surplus information and moving information in Chapter 2 of the current version of MS46 to other sections to avoid repetition – this has resulted in Chapter 2 in the current version being completely dissolved in the draft RALI MS46.
  • making minor editorial changes and improvements.

The draft RALI MS44 and Embargo 49 documents have changes tracked, for ease of review, given the small number of edits.

Consultation enquiries can be emailed to freqplan@acma.gov.au.