25 August 2005
ACMA varies licence to allow short-range broadband communications
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has varied the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000 (the LIPD class licence) to allow equipment to operate in the 60 GHz spectrum band.
‘This variation will support the use of short-range wireless broadband equipment with very high data rates - equivalent to fibre optic technologies,’ said Lyn Maddock, Acting ACMA Chair.
‘The decision brings Australian arrangements into line with those in the United States, Canada and Japan, which allow “unlicensed” operation of transceiver devices in bands around 60 GHz.’
Ms Maddock said the change is one of several variations that ACMA has made to the LIPD class licence to reflect changes in technology and industry requirements.
Medical implant communications systems (MICS) and medical implant telemetry systems (MITS) are now also authorised under the LIPD class licence.
A MICS device is a short-range radiocommunications transceiver that communicates with an extremely low power radiocommunications device incorporated within a medical implant in a patient. A MITS device uses one-way radiocommunications transmissions from an implanted device to an external monitoring receiver. The use, marketing and supply of these devices require approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Changes have also been made to remove uncertainty and duplication between the Radiocommunications (Spread Spectrum Devices) Class Licence 2002 (the spread spectrum class licence) and the LIPD class licence by revoking the spread spectrum class licence.
Users of certain spread spectrum devices are now authorised to use equipment under the LIPD class licence, rather than the previous confusing situation where they might be authorised under either the spread spectrum class licence or the LIPD class licence.
Other changes made to the LIPD class licence include an expanded frequency range for low power transmitters in the 2.5 GHz band, and updated provisions for radio local area networks (RLANs) operating in the 5250-5350 MHz band.
The LIPD Class Licence Variation instrument and the Spread Spectrum Class Licence Revocation instrument are available via the ACMA website.
Media contact: Donald Robertson, ACMA Media Manager on (02) 9334 7980.
