Technical framework - 800 MHz and 1.8 GHz bands (1998-2001)

This section describes:

the technical framework underpinning spectrum licensing in the 1.8 GHz and 800 MHz bands;
the purpose and operation of the s.145 Determinations of unacceptable interference;
the various Advisory Guidelines that protect apparatus licensed devices in adjacent spectrum and in the spectrum licensed space; and
other essential information about the technical framework.

Introduction

The technical framework has been established by the ACMA to support the use of many different types of service, including the following:

all types of digital or analog modulation (except, under Government policy, analog AMPS is not permitted in re-allocated spectrum);
narrowband and broadband services;
frequency or time domain duplexing;
large mobile or point to multipoint service areas of around 40 km radius in urban areas at 800 MHz;
point to point services when both ends of the link have transmitters operating in the upper band at 800 MHz or either the upper or lower band when a link operating at 1800 MHz is located in regional areas; and
mobile transmitters with high radiated power (up to 40 W) at 800 MHz.

Broadly speaking, the technical framework for spectrum licensing in the 1.8 GHz and 800 MHz bands is constructed from three interlocking tools. Two of these tools are used to deal with the management of emission levels, namely the core conditions of the licences themselves, and the registration of devices under the Act. The third tool, advisory guidelines to be made by the ACMA under the Act, will provide a framework for the co-ordination of spectrum licensed services with apparatus licensed services operating within the spectrum to be re-allocated, and with apparatus licensed services that operate in spectrum surrounding the spectrum to be spectrum licensed. One of the advisory guidelines will also provide a co-ordination framework for spectrum licensed services.

The entire technical framework is predicated on the assumptions that:

spectrum and apparatus licensees will employ good engineering practice in establishing and maintaining their services;
receivers employed by spectrum licensees will, as a minimum, meet the notional receiver performance levels set out in Schedule 1 of each of the
Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference from Apparatus-licensed Transmitters - 1800 MHz Band) 1999, and the
Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference from Apparatus-licensed Transmitters - 800 MHz Band) 1998 (see Receiver Performance below); and
receivers employed by apparatus licensees will, as a minimum, meet the relevant standard made under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 or, if there is no such standard, the level of performance referred to in the advisory guideline that applies to the apparatus licensed service in question; and
spectrum licensees will be responsible for managing interference that they, or their third party authorisees, cause to their own services through their operation of devices under any spectrum licence or apparatus licence.

The following general principles have also been followed in developing the technical framework:

the ACMA has attempted to provide the maximum flexibility to spectrum licensees to establish services;
absolute power levels have been specified as emission limits rather than power levels that are relative to the transmitter power;
- this allows licensees to strike a balance between the maximum radiated power of a device and its out-of-band performance;
the core conditions indirectly specify frequency stability by requiring the emission limits outside the band to be maintained under all conditions;
- this allows a licensee to balance emission bandwidths along with frequency stability, as well as transmitter rise and fall times providing ‘internal guard bands’ as necessary.

The interference mechanisms that the technical framework seeks to manage are those caused by:

unwanted in-band emissions;
the modulation process;
the frequency generation process;
transient unwanted emissions such as those caused by switching a transmitter on and off; and
intermodulation effects.

All five of these mechanisms are dealt with by a combination of the core conditions relating to out-of-area and out-of-band emissions, and those parts of the registration process which give effect to those conditions at the point of registration of devices prior to their operation.

The technical framework also provides additional controls in relation to out-of-band interference, such as that caused by intermodulation effects. Firstly, a series of constraints are imposed on the deployment of transmitters and receivers by means of the registration process. Secondly, a licence condition imposes on spectrum licensees the responsibility to manage out-of-band interference that arises from devices being located within 200 metres of each other.

It should be noted that in all cases, the technical framework established by the ACMA for the 1.8 GHz and 800 MHz bands is a basis upon which further flexibility may be achieved. The ACMA is prepared to consider alternative management arrangements for emission levels agreed between spectrum licensees and, where relevant, apparatus licensees. Spectrum licensees should, however, note that the ACMA will not give effect to alternative arrangements unless all affected and potentially affected licensees have agreed to the arrangements.

For example, spectrum licensees might agree alternative arrangements with other licensees under which higher powers for smaller bandwidths inside the frequency band of the licence would be allowed. The variation to the level of power would depend on the width of the guard bands being proposed, and the notional RF selectivity expected for receivers operating under adjacent licences.

Furthermore, it should be noted that agreements between licensees can only continue to apply while the size and the shape of the spectrum space owned by the licensees remains the same. Where trading of licences takes place and new boundaries are formed, these agreements will need to be re-negotiated. This renegotiation can occur at any time, that is, before or after the trade, so that there is no loss of flexibility to licensees.

When trading occurs by means of the division of spectrum space, a check will be required to ensure that the "device boundaries" of devices that are to continue operating remain within the geographic area of the relevant licence and those devices will need to be recertified and reregistered under the new licence.

Core conditions

This part explains what the core conditions relating to emissions are intended to achieve, and how the emissions subject to those conditions are further managed under the technical framework.

Out-of-area emissions

Emissions from a fixed transmitter operated under a spectrum licence located anywhere in the geographic area of the licence are limited by core conditions to a horizontally radiated power (measured within a 30 kHz bandwidth) of 59 dBm EIRP at 800 MHz and 54.5 dBm EIRP at 1800 MHz. The conditions, therefore, effectively place an overall cap on power at the boundary and also throughout the entire geographic area of a licence.

Under the s.145 determinations, emissions from a mobile transmitter are limited to a horizontally radiated power (measured within a 30 kHz bandwidth) of 46 dBm EIRP at 800 MHz and 24.5 dBm at 1800 MHz.

An additional layer of management is imposed at the point of registration of devices. Before registering a device a licensee or accredited person must calculate the device boundary of the transmitter in accordance with the relevant determination made by the ACMA under s.145 of the Act. These are the:

Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference - 800 MHz Band) Determination 2000

(Determination as amended, taking into account amendments up to Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference - 800 MHz Band) Amendment Determination 2002 (No. 1)); and
Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference - 1800 MHz Band) Determination 1998

(Determination as amended, taking into account amendments up to Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference - 1800 MHz Band) Amendment Determination 2002 (No. 1)).

This involves establishing the distance, along radials from the transmitter, that is required for the emission level to drop below what the ACMA considers to be the typical sensitivity that will be achieved by receivers in adjacent geographic areas. The distance along each radial is based on a mathematical propagation model. The model takes account of the terrain loss of emissions by adjusting the antenna height of a device according to its height above average terrain, called its effective antenna height.

Effective antenna heights are calculated every 5 minutes in distance along each radial. If the device boundary so calculated falls outside the geographic area of the relevant spectrum licence the ACMA will, generally speaking, refuse to register the device because the levels of emission outside the licence that it would cause will be ‘unacceptable interference’ within the meaning of s.145 of the Act. The ACMA will consider registration in these circumstances where all affected licensees reach alternative arrangements for the management of emission levels.

The effect of these two layers of management is to create ‘emission buffer zones’ along the geographic boundaries of the licences. The corollary of this aspect of interference management is that spectrum licensees must expect that certain levels of emission will legitimately cross their geographic boundaries from points within other spectrum licensed areas. Accordingly, when considering what services they might establish within their own geographic areas, spectrum licensees will have to take into account the fact that transmitters may be located at certain points within other spectrum licensed areas, and that those transmitters may radiate power into the spectrum licensee’s area at any level up to that allowed under the relevant s.145 determination of unacceptable interference.

Out-of-band emissions

Out of band emission limits are imposed by a core condition. To establish whether the operation of a device will cause ‘unacceptable interference’ by breaching the out-of-band emission limits, a licensee or accredited person must work out the radiated power of the device within bandwidths outside the frequency band of the licence using good engineering practice. If the power so calculated is greater than a figure specified in the relevant licence condition, two things follow:

if the device is not yet registered - the ACMA will generally speaking refuse to register it, because the interference that it would cause will be ‘unacceptable interference’ within the meaning of s.145 of the Act, (unless, for example, all relevant licensees agree alternative arrangements);
if the device is already registered - there will be a breach of the core licence condition, unless, once again, all relevant licensees have agreed the alternative arrangements, and the ACMA varies the relevant licence or licences to reflect those varied arrangements (see s.72 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992).

Levels of protection not provided

It should be noted that under the interference management regime established for spectrum licensing in the 500 MHz regime, receivers in adjacent areas are further protected from in-band interference by ‘levels of protection’, which were enforced by means of a licence condition. This protection was afforded by requiring that the power at a receiver must not exceed a specified level measured in a certain manner. That gave protection to receivers on a sliding scale, which varied with the antenna height and distance to the boundary of the geographic area. This is not necessary under the current allocation, because the STU bandwidth is sufficiently large for licensees to avoid interference from adjacent areas by relocating their service within their own spectrum space as necessary, including within their own frequency band.

Deployment constraints

Whilst the two core conditions aimed at emission levels provide some measure of protection from intermodulation effects, the ACMA considers it will be necessary to provide further means of protecting against this interference mechanism. To this end, the ACMA proposes to impose some constraints on the deployment of transmitters in both bands. The ACMA does not intend to impose deployment constraints on receivers, and the onus will lie on spectrum licensees to determine the best siting for their receivers, having regard to the overall technical framework.

It is, however, important to note that (as mentioned above) the technical framework does not provide any protection from intermodulation effects where transmitters are sited within 200 metres of each other. Consequently, the ACMA proposes to impose a special condition on the spectrum licences that will have the effect of requiring spectrum licensees to come to an arrangement amongst themselves in relation to interference in such cases.

The deployment constraints vary from band to band, and from area to area. The constraints are expressed in terms of effective antenna height which is calculated using the average ground height within approximately 10 kilometres of each device. For a more detailed explanation of effective antenna height, please see the relevant s.145 determinations.

Lower 800 MHz Band (825 - 845 MHz)

In this band transmitters must be deployed at less than an effective antenna height of 10 metres. In this case the effect of the framework is to effectively protect high sited receivers, and the ACMA anticipates that spectrum licensees will site their receivers in this way to obtain a reasonable service area. Potential licensees should have regard to this when considering potential sites and the utility of the spectrum.

Upper 800 MHz Band (870 - 890 MHz)

In this part of the 800 MHz Band transmitters may be deployed at any effective antenna height. The ACMA has adopted this course to provide maximum flexibility for spectrum licensees in country areas where the likelihood of nearby services (receivers) at low sites is low, and consequently the siting of transmitters at low sites may be expected, generally speaking, not to cause any problems. The potential for interference in the 800 MHz Band is further limited by the fact that transmitters will be confined below the 10 metre level across the whole of the lower 800 MHz Band across the entire country. Consequently, because transmitters in the lower band must be at low sites, and because it is assumed that the spectrum will be used in paired bands (but not necessarily - see below), it can be anticipated that transmitters in the upper band will generally be at high sites. Although the ACMA has not required that transmitters in the upper band be placed at high sites, and the receivers at low sites, the ACMA considers that this will be the natural result of the combination of the deployment constraint in the lower band plus paired band usage.

If spectrum licensees follow this anticipated siting of transmitters in the upper 800 MHz Band, interference from intermodulation effects will normally be a co-siting issue, and fall for resolution between spectrum licensees and others under the special condition requiring negotiation where transmitters are sited within 200 metres of each other.

If, however, spectrum licensees take advantage of the flexibility open to them to site transmitters operating in the upper 800 MHz Band at less than 10 metres above effective ground level, and intermodulation interference arises as a result of the siting of such a transmitter within 200 metres of a receiver, the spectrum licensee who places the transmitter at the low site will bear the responsibility for managing the interference. Managing interference includes investigating possible causes of interference, taking steps to resolve disputes concerning interference, and taking steps to reduce the likelihood of interference occurring.

1.8 GHz Band in areas of high mobile use

The areas of high mobile use are set out in the relevant s.145 determination. In these areas in the 1.8 GHz Band, the same arguments apply as for the whole of the 800 MHz Band. Consequently, in the 1.8 GHz Band in areas of high mobile use the ACMA proposes to impose deployment constraints in the lower part of the band (1710 - 1755 MHz) but not in the upper part (1805 - 1850 MHz).

1.8 GHz Band outside areas of high mobile use

The ACMA does not propose to impose any deployment constraints in either the upper or lower parts of the 1.8 GHz Band in areas that are outside the areas of high mobile use. This is to support continued use by fixed services, which operate on a high site, point to point basis, and will allow them to acquire spectrum licences.

However, the operation of services at high sites in both upper and lower parts of the 1.8 GHz Band causes a number of problems. In particular, to manage out-of-band interference, spectrum licensees will have to provide themselves with additional out-of-band ‘emission buffers’ along any ‘frequency boundary’ within the 15 MHz of spectrum that is available outside areas of high mobile use. Accordingly, spectrum licensees who may want to operate a receiver at a high site where transmitters in adjacent bands are likely to be operating, when considering the services that they might be able to operate within this spectrum, should note that they may have to:

provide guard bands and/or high performance filters at the edges of their spectrum; or
negotiate with the adjacent licensee either to employ transmit filtering, or to avoid placing transmitters near the frequency boundary at that location.

In-band issues arising under the technical framework where there are no deployment constraints imposed

Because of the assumptions on operation at high and low sites that underlie the technical framework in areas of high mobile use, potential spectrum licensees and incumbent apparatus licensees should also have regard to the following further issues.

Firstly, spectrum licensees who want to operate a receiver at a high site outside areas of high mobile use will have to:

place their receivers at a large distance from the geographic boundary; or
negotiate with the adjacent licensees not to place their transmitters near their own geographic boundaries.

Secondly, spectrum licensees who propose to operate a service in the lower 1.8 GHz Band at a high site in a country area should note that a transmitter at such a site may have direct line of sight to a receiver operated by another spectrum licensee in an area of high mobile use in that Band. In keeping with the Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Protection of Mobile Base Receivers - 1800 MHz Lower Band) 1999 the ACMA will expect both spectrum and apparatus licensees to locate their transmitters well away from such areas of high mobile use. The guidelines indicate acceptable geographic separation.

Incumbent apparatus licensees should note that the effect of this regime will be that after the two year re-allocation period, an incumbent apparatus licensee will need to take account of the advisory guideline, and either relocate to upper band, acquire the high mobile use spectrum, or come to an arrangement in relation to interference with the relevant spectrum licensee.

Practical examples of the operation of the technical framework, and potential loss of utility of spectrum

In regional areas, mobile base stations are usually located at the best vantage point for serving a country town. Sites are difficult to procure. Therefore, it is likely that both mobile and fixed services in regional areas will be in close proximity to each other, as they often are in urban areas now. Therefore, it is likely that a high level of negotiation could occur at sites that do not fall within the defined areas of high mobile use. There could be a proportionate loss of utility of that spectrum.

For example, under the framework it is possible for two adjacent spectrum licensees to operate mobile services with dissimilar configurations, for example frequency domain duplex (FDD) frequency adjacent to a time domain duplex (TDD) service. This is a similar problem to that experienced at the old AMPS-GSM boundary where there was a loss of spectrum utility. TDD equipment is already available for these bands and more equipment is expected to become available over the term of the licences (15 years). A licensee who wants to operate DCS 1800 outside an area of high mobile use needs to be aware that someone in an adjacent spectrum licence may wish to operate transmitters at high sites near the licensee’s DCS 1800 base receivers.

These examples of how the interference management regime might affect proposed services and spectrum utility are not intended to be exhaustive. Potential spectrum licensees should take such expert technical and other advice as they consider necessary to inform themselves of the technical framework, and the possible effects on their proposed services of the operation of services by other spectrum and apparatus licensees under that framework. Potential spectrum licensees should similarly inform themselves of the possible losses of utility of spectrum to which the operations of other licensees might give rise.

Managing interference between apparatus licensed and spectrum licensed devices

The ACMA proposes that interference between devices operated under spectrum licences and devices operated under apparatus licences (and in one case operated under more than one spectrum licence) will be managed by advisory guidelines made under s.262 of the Act. The guidelines have been developed so as to, generally speaking, provide apparatus licensees with the same levels of protection from other services as they currently enjoy under the apparatus licensing system. The guidelines achieve this by specifying compatibility requirements between spectrum licensed services and apparatus licensed services. The compatibility requirements are essentially a model on the basis of which spectrum and apparatus licensees are expected to develop co-ordination procedures for the management of interference to each others services, using good engineering practice. Licensees who cannot resolve interference problems between themselves may expect the ACMA to have regard to the guidelines in dealing with such disputes.

However, the guidelines are not binding either on licensees or the ACMA, and the ACMA has adopted this approach in order to provide the maximum flexibility for both spectrum and apparatus licensees in how they arrange their affairs so as to avoid interference with each other’s services. Once again, the ACMA is prepared to consider alternative interference management arrangements agreed between spectrum licensees and, where relevant, apparatus licensees. Spectrum licensees should, however, note that the ACMA will not give effect to alternative arrangements unless all affected and potentially affected licensees have agreed to the arrangements, and that subsequent trading will impact on any agreements reached.

The ACMA recommends that radiocommunications devices be registered at the system design stage (especially services that are near the frequency boundary of Telstra’s GSM service at 890 MHz) to enable apparatus licensees, if they wish, to re-check the coordination and if an obvious error is detected, negotiate directly with the spectrum licensee before further costs are incurred when transmitters are not able to be operated due to interference. Registration at the system design stage, however, should not to be used for the purpose of inhibiting the operation of devices by adjacent licensees through the requirements of coordination for devices that are never intended to be operated.

The compatibility requirements that the ACMA would normally expect to be maintained in relation to apparatus licensed receivers are described in the guidelines as follows.

Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Protection of Apparatus licensed Receivers - 800 MHz Band) 1998

These guidelines apply to receivers of trunked land mobile services, narrowband point to point services, wideband point-to-point services, studio transmitter links, GSM base receivers and AMPS receivers. A special situation exists at the AMPS-GSM boundary where a spectrum licensee will probably have to provide high performance filters to GSM base receivers in order to extract maximum utility from the 5 MHz of spectrum that is adjacent to the GSM services. An overview of propagation models is given in the guideline to assist licensees in the development of suitable co-ordination procedures.

The ACMA recognises that the potential for interference to GSM operations from the spectrum licensee of the band immediately adjacent to Telstra's GSM system is higher than any other interference scenario. The ACMA has undertaken to Telstra that it will act quickly to ensure that no interference is caused. The ACMA will rely on these s.262 advisory guidelines to establish a benchmark against which complaints of interference will be investigated and resolved.

Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Protection of Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope) 1998

The Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) is a radio telescope located approximately 30 km to the east of Canberra that monitors radio signals from weak celestial radio sources in a frequency band centred on 843 MHz.

These advisory guidelines set out the compatibility requirement to provide the MOST with a reasonable level of interference protection from transmitters operating in this band. A suggested approach to assessing the compatibility is also provided. The compatibility requirement ceased at the end of 2008 and these advisory guidelines were revoked in March 2009.

Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Protection of Apparatus licensed Receivers - 1800 MHz Band) 1999

These guidelines apply to receivers of microwave fixed point-to-point services operating in or adjacent to the 1800 MHz band as well as services operating under the meteorological satellite service below 1710 MHz. Incumbent point-to-point receivers (a receiver that has part of the frequency band of its spectrum access, and its location, within designated spectrum space), will require protection for the re-allocation period detailed in the designation of the 1800 MHz Band. Receivers operating in conjunction with services for which licences were issued before the date of issue of the Marketing Plan, and which are:

outside the bands to be spectrum licensed; and/or
outside the areas to be spectrum licensed

will require continuing co-channel and adjacent channel protection for the full period of the spectrum licences. A survey, seeking confirmation of licence details for existing services at both 800 MHz and 1800 MHz has been completed and the updated details from the survey have been incorporated into the ACMA's Register and CD-ROM.

Receivers whose apparatus licences are issued after the date of issue of the Marketing Plan will be required to accept any in-band emission from a device operated under a spectrum licence, if the spectrum licensed device is operated in accordance with the core conditions of the licence and the relevant s.145 determination.

Transmitters that operate in the 1800 MHz lower band and are related to those receivers are required to comply with Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Protection of Mobile Base Receivers - 1800 MHz Lower Band) 1998 (see below).

In the case of receivers operating under spectrum licences, compatibility requirements are specified in the following advisory guidelines.

Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference from Apparatus-licensed Transmitters - 800 MHz Band) 1998

Broadly speaking, these guidelines specify the compatibility requirements that apparatus licensed transmitters should meet in relation to receivers that have been registered for operation in the 800 MHz Band under spectrum licences. (For a more detailed description of the services to which these guidelines apply, prospective spectrum licensees and apparatus licensees should see the guidelines themselves.)

A notional receiver performance level is also specified to enable licensees to develop appropriate co-ordination procedures. The ACMA intends to assume that all receivers operating under spectrum licences have a performance at least equal to the notional performance when settling interference disputes.

Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference from Apparatus-licensed Transmitters - 1800 MHz Band) 1999

These guidelines operate in a manner similar to those above except that they specify a compatibility requirement for receivers operated under spectrum licences at 1800 MHz.

Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Protection of Mobile Base Receivers - 1800 MHz Lower Band) 1999

These guidelines affect the use of transmitters at 1800 MHz whose apparatus licences are issued after the date of issue of the Marketing Plan as well as transmitters operating under spectrum licences in the lower band and located outside areas of high mobile use.

Receiver performance

As mentioned above, licensees will need to take account of the emission limits permitted under the technical framework when deciding the level of performance they require for their receivers. Receivers will cope with emission levels with differing degrees of success depending on their interference susceptibility performance.

For example, a receiver with poor performance would normally deny large amounts of spectrum space for transmitters to use in order to protect it from interference. The ACMA does not intend to enforce receiver standards. It is for each licensee to balance the cost of receiver performance against the cost of spectrum space denied to their transmitters.

Poor receiver performance is only a problem when a licensee uses spectrum space belonging to an adjacent licensee. The framework provides for the operation of receivers that have an interference susceptibility equal to or better than that achieved by current technology and intends for this level of performance to guide the interference settlement process. Receivers with poor interference susceptibility performance can be used, but in those cases, a licensee may have to use part of their own spectrum space as a guard band. For example, interference that results from a receiver having an RF bandwidth that is larger than the frequency band of the licence, will be the licensee’s responsibility. It is the licensee’s responsibility to use receivers in a manner that is both consistent with good engineering practice and effectively copes with the levels permitted under the technical framework.

Interference that the technical framework does not prevent

No matter how rigorous the engineering analysis of a device, there is always a possibility of actual interference when devices are deployed in the field. This is because the technical framework is designed on a probabilistic basis. Under the framework described in this Chapter, it is anticipated that interference between spectrum licensed devices will occur at about the same rate as between apparatus licensed devices, that is, interference will arise in less than one percent of cases.

Such interference may be caused by emissions at frequencies either inside or outside licensees’ spectrum space.

Licensees are strongly advised before making an interference complaint to attempt to locate the source of any interference by checking the Register of Radiocommunications Licences. This investigation may reveal the cause of the interference and it may be possible to settle the problem without the ACMA’s intervention. If the ACMA becomes involved, licensees may be charged for any work undertaken.

Registering groups of transmitters

Transmitters must always be registered as either an individual transmitter or as part of a group of transmitters. If two or more transmitters are operated for the purpose of communicating with the same receiver or same group of receivers and they have identical emission characteristics, then those transmitters may be treated as a group for registration purposes. A transmitter may belong to more than one group. Groups are defined to help minimise the work associated with the registration process of similar transmitters, for example, mobile transmitters and cellular base stations. Low power mobile transmitters, and low power fixed transmitters operated in enclosed spaces (for example, those usually associated with PCS systems) are exempted from device registration requirements.

Both fixed and mobile transmitters must be registered (unless exempted). Mobile devices may be registered as a group (or one logical device), and in some cases that one logical device may operate in a number of locations called effective mobile locations. Lists of effective mobile locations are available from the ACMA.

An effective mobile location has an associated effective radius which is used to further expand the device boundary to take account of the roaming nature of a mobile transmitter.

International co-ordination

The ITU Radio Regulations have international treaty status and are binding on Australia. Transmitters operated under a spectrum licence, other than in accordance with ITU Radio Regulations, must not cause interference to any services of any other country (for example, Papua New Guinea or Indonesia) which are operating in accordance with ITU Radio Regulations. If operation of a transmitter does cause harmful interference to overseas services operating in accordance with ITU Radio Regulations, the transmission must cease. Spectrum licensees must also accept interference from any overseas service operating in accordance with ITU regulations. Potential spectrum licensees should note that the ACMA will impose such additional licence conditions on spectrum licences as may be necessary to meet its international obligations.

Health and safety

Every spectrum licensee will need to take into account occupational health and safety requirements for radiofrequency devices. Occupational health and safety requirements that concern use of radiofrequency devices are currently the responsibility of the relevant State or Territory Governments.

In addition, licensees will be required to comply with any health exposure standards that may be made by the ACMA for the health and safety of persons who operate, work on or use radiocommunications transmitters and receivers.

Environmental and other considerations

Antenna siting, height and construction may be regulated by State, Territory or local government legislation. Before planning for a device to operate in a certain location, licensees should investigate the local rules pertaining to the erection of towers and antennas.

Obtaining a permit to operate non-standard devices

A licensee who wishes to operate standard devices under a spectrum licence (that is, equipment that conforms to mandatory ACMA standards) will not have to apply to the ACMA for permission to do so. However, a permit will be required to operate non-standard devices. These permits may be issued by the ACMA under s.167 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992, and will only be issued for the term of the licence.

Permits to supply non-standard devices for operation under a spectrum licence may also be issued by the ACMA under s.174 of the Act.