The ACMA and its predecessors have made a practice of permitting the use of unallocated available spectrum in the broadcasting services bands to support trials of new technologies. The ACMA’s general policy on the conduct of these trials limits their duration to periods of 12 months. Information, including the guidelines used by the ACMA to assess applications for trials of new technology, is available. Additional principles that the ACMA developed to assist in managing access to unused BSB spectrum during the digital television switchover and restack process can accessed on the 3D Television page.
3D TV trials
Since May 2010 the ACMA has issued a number of scientific apparatus licences which have authorised trials of 3D TV. More ...
DAB+ trials
In response to applications from Commercial Radio Australia, the ACMA has authorised trials of DAB+ in Canberra and Darwin. More ...
DVB-H trials
In July 2005, the ACMA approved an application from The Bridge Networks Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Broadcast Australia) to conduct a DVB-H trial in Sydney on channel 29. The ACMA made a determination under subsection 34(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 that allowed The Bridge Networks to conduct the trial from July 2005 to July 2006.
In July 2006, the ACMA made a determination under subsection 34(1) of the Act to extend the trial until 31 December 2006. Broadcast Australia requested a further extension of the trial, however the ACMA decided that sufficient time had already been available for the trial. The trial subsequently ceased on 31 January 2007.
In March 2007, the ACMA approved an application from Irdeto Access Pty Ltd to conduct a DVB-H trial in Sydney on channel 29. The ACMA made a determination under subsection 34(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 that allowed Irdeto Access Pty Ltd to conduct the trial from May 2007 to July 2007.
In July 2007, the ACMA made a determination under subsection 34(1) of the Act to extend the trial until 31 August 2007.
Copies of reports of these trials are available below:
- Irdeto DVB-H trial report (160 kb)
- The Bridge Networks P/L DVB-H trial report (1.2 mb)
In November 2008, the ACMA approved an application by Australian Digital Testing (ADT) to conduct a DVB-H trial in Sydney on Channel 29, to demonstrate and test the interoperability of mobile television services on DVB-H handsets from a number of suppliers.
The proposed trial period was the period 1 December 2008 to 28 February 2009.
A copy of the trial report is available below:
- ADT DVB-H Trial Report (480 kb)
Datacasting trials
Broadcast Australia conducted a datacasting trial in Sydney in the radiofrequency band 575-582 MHz. The trial, known as DIGITAL FORTY FOUR, operated from December 2003 to April 2010.
On 29 January 2010, the ACMA issued a final licence and made spectrum available until 30 April 2010. Datacasting service licences issued in relation to the trial are listed in the table below.
| Licence identifier | Licensee | Transmitter details | Date allocated |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL1170572 | Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff | Transmitter licensed to Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd | 30 Oct 2003 |
| SL1170573 | Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd | Transmitter licensed to Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd | 30 Oct 2003 |
| SL1170574 | Tab Limited | Transmitter licensed to Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd | 30 Oct 2003 |
| SL1170575 | Expo Network Pty Ltd | Transmitter licensed to Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd | 4 Nov 2003 |
| SL1170578 | Macquarie Equities (Australia) Limited | Transmitter licensed to Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd | 18 Nov 2003 |
| SL1170581 | NSW Department of Commerce | Transmitter licensed to Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd | 9 Dec 2003 |
| SL1170622 | Australian Christian Channel Pty Ltd | Transmitter licensed to Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd | 29 Jun 2004 |
Copies of the latest reports are available:
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - Jan 2010 (140 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - Jan 2009 (76 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - Oct 2008 (64 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - May 2008 (68 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial Provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - Mar 2008 (44 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - Nov 2007 (47 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - Jun 2007 (39 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - May 2007 (38 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - Apr 2007 (39 kb)
- Understanding the impact of Datacasting - presentation by Broadcast Australia - Feb 2007 (304 kb)
- Information on the Datacasting Trial provided by Broadcast Australia to the ACMA - Dec 2006 (362 kb)
