October 2003: Report on utilisation of the microwave fixed services bands
The former ACA completed a study that extends the statistical data series on microwave fixed service usage that was provided in a paper, released in 2000 (see below). The latest study is described in a Spectrum Planning Report titled "Utilisation of the Microwave Fixed Services Bands" (PDF 288 kb).
The report also includes a series of recommendations for refinements to RALI FX 3 arrangements, these recommendations have been consolidated on a band-by-band basis in Section 4 of the Report. Comments are invited on those recommendations. The closing date for comments was Friday 12 December 2003.
History
The microwave bands between 1.5 and 60 GHz support a variety of important uses, including point-to-point and point-to-multipoint fixed services. Spectrum in these bands is subject to demands both for the expansion of existing services and for provision of new technologies and services. It is therefore important for the former ACA to monitor fixed service usage trends in the microwave bands as an input to its spectrum planning process. In February 2000 the former ACA released the information paper Microwave Radio Spectrum Trends: Accommodating the Demands of Growth, New Technologies and Relocation, February 2000 (PDF 3.74 mb) for comment. The paper discussed spectrum management policy issues relating to the (1-60 GHz) terrestrial fixed services.
The paper presented:
- a background to the current fixed service arrangements in the microwave bands
- a description of the principal characteristics of the various bands
- statistical analyses of current band usage and trends
- identification of the demand drivers likely to affect current usage arrangements
- discussion of options available to incumbents in bands likely to be displaced
- identification of additional former ACA regulatory tools and database enhancements
- discussion of spectrum denial approaches to licence fees and
- recommendations dealing with particular issues.
Comments were invited on the detailed content of the paper and, in particular, the actions and recommendations consolidated at Section 5 "Conclusions and Recommendations". The closing date for comments was 15 May 2000.
The former ACA examined the comments received and produced a summary (PDF 129 kb) of them. The summary also includes a brief description of what the former ACA intends to do next about the issues raised in the paper.
