Draft allocation and technical instruments for the 3.4/3.7 GHz bands auction

After reviewing submissions, we have made the following technical and allocation instruments:

• Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Allocation – 3.4/3.7 GHz Bands) Determination 2023
• Radiocommunications Spectrum Marketing Plan (3.4./3.7 GHz Bands) 2023
• Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference – 3.4 GHz Band) Amendment Determination 2023 (No. 1)
• Radiocommunication Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference to Spectrum Licensed Receivers – 3.4 GHz Band) Variation 2023 (No. 1)
• Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference from Spectrum Licensed Transmitters – 3.4 GHz Band) Variation 2023 (No. 1) 

We have released the applicant information package, advertised the auction and invited applicants to participate in the 3.4/3.7 GHz bands auction.

Previously, we released the public submissions to this consultation and noted a decision had been reached on mitigations for radio altimeters.

We have now released an outcomes paper, available in the key documents box above. It responds to submissions commenting on the:

• marketing plan
• allocation determination
• allocation limits
• technical framework.

Please note that the outcomes paper was amended on 11 July 2023 to update page numbering.

We have released the public submissions to this consultation. You can access these at the bottom of the page. 

We now plan to:

• advertise the auction
• publish the applicant information pack
• invite applications to participate in the 3.4/3.7 GHz auction.

An outcome has also been reached on managing coexistence between wireless broadband services and radio altimeters for the 3.4–4.0 GHz band. 

For details on our decision-making with mitigations for radio altimeters, please see our 5G and aviation services page.
 

Globally, spectrum in the 3400–4200 MHz frequency range is of great interest. It is suitable for many applications, including fixed satellite and wireless broadband (WBB) services such as 5G.  

On 14 July 2022, we made the Radiocommunications (Spectrum Re-allocation – 3.4 GHz and 3.7 GHz Bands) Declaration 2022 (the re-allocation declaration) for parts of the 3.4 GHz (3400–3575 MHz) and the 3.7 GHz (3700–3800 MHz) bands.

We are preparing to allocate this spectrum by auction. This is expected to occur in the last quarter of 2023. In preparation for the auction, we have prepared draft allocation and technical instruments. These describe:

• the products we are offering in the auction
• the rules and procedures we propose will govern the auction
• the technical framework for operating devices in the bands.

The draft allocation and technical instruments and consultation paper discussing these draft instruments are available in the key documents section. We seek your comments on the draft instruments and any other issues relevant to the allocation of spectrum licences in the 3.4 and 3.7 GHz bands. We have also published an allocation limits calculation tool for transparency on how allocation limits are meant to function in the auction.

The consultation also includes our proposed approach to manage the coexistence of wireless broadband services with radio altimeters on aircraft which operate in the 4200–4400 MHz band. This aspect is applicable to all allocations, including the future allocations in 3.4–4.0 GHz in remote areas and AWLs in the 3.8 GHz band.

We held a tune-up on 24 February 2023 to discuss the policies in our consultation material. Find out more about by emailing SpectrumAllocations@acma.gov.au.

Please note: On 9 March 2023, we made the following corrections to the allocation limits calculation tool:

• On the 'Regions' worksheet, the 'Regional NSW' region now includes the 'NSW/ACT Urban Fringe' sub-area.
• On the 'Sub-areas' worksheet, the 'NSW/ACT Urban Fringe' sub-area is now part of the 'Regional NSW' region.

Previously, these 2 sheets incorrectly omitted the ‘NSW/ACT Urban Fringe’ sub-area from the ‘Regional NSW’ region.

However, the calculations spreadsheet correctly defined the ‘Regional NSW’ region to include the ‘NSW/ACT Urban Fringe’ sub-area, so the calculations are unaffected by the correction.

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