Remaking the Fixed Licence LCD and revised arrangements for the 3.4–4 GHz band

We have finalised the remaining elements from this review. RALI MS 47 has been updated to include provisions:

• Avoiding issuing AWLs that result in areas of limited utility within or between AWLs. New AWLs should not contain areas that are smaller than a circle of radius 40 km, or gaps proximate to other parts of the AWL or other AWL areas that are smaller than a circle of radius 40 km (see point 15 of section 3.2.1).
• To support the operation of cells-on-wheels (COWs) located within 5 km of another base station operated under the licence (see section 3.3.3).

In making these decisions, we have considered feedback in submissions (included at the bottom of this page). In both cases, the new arrangements are intended to:

• support the practical use of spectrum
• manage the risk of interference
• help preserve spectrum access for future services.

On the provision to avoid issuing AWLs that result in unallocated areas, we received feedback supporting the provision but suggesting a larger area of radius 40 km. This is because the proposed 20 km radius area was considered too small to have utility for deploying a network without causing interference to surrounding AWLs. While the larger radius will make AWL area allocations less flexible, we agree that the 20 km radius could result in areas of limited utility. We do not propose to apply this condition to existing AWLs.

We received submissions that supported the provision to operate COWs, with additional suggestions to limit potential interference, including:

• time limitations on licences
• prohibitions on COWs used to extend the coverage of a network. 

We are of the view that the scope of the new provision is appropriate to manage the risk of interference. We have also included a new element in the provision text to ensure that COWs are only operated in remote areas, as defined in RALI MS47.

More information is available on our RALIs to coordinate frequency page.

We've brought in more updates to arrangements in the 3.4-4 GHz band. These include:

• Releasing new arrangements for highly localised wireless broadband (HL WBB) and underground PTS services.
• Additional updates to RALI MS47: Licensing and coordination procedures for area-wide licences (AWL) in the 3400–4000 MHz band that are unrelated to the new HL WBB and underground public telecommunications services (PTS) arrangements. However, we have not updated RALI MS47 to include the proposed arrangements for cells-on-wheels and the issue policy to avoid limited use discontinuity areas within AWLs. We will continue to consider these outstanding issues and will provide updates on the page later. 

More information, including our response to issues raised in submissions, is available in outcomes paper above and on our RALIs to coordinate frequency page.

Radiocommunications

We received 4 submissions to this consultation, which you can access below. After considering the submissions, we made the:

• Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Fixed Licence) Determination 2025
• Radiocommunications (Register of Radiocommunications Licences) Amendment Determination 2025 (No. 1).

We also updated RALI FX16: Frequency assignment requirements for the point-to-multipoint service in the VHF high, 400 MHz and 800 MHz bands. You can access the updated instructions on our RALIs to coordinate frequency page.

We are seeking your views on:

• The proposed remake of the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Fixed Licence) Determination 2015, which is due to sunset on 1 October 2025.
• Proposed licensing and technical arrangements for highly localised wireless broadband use of the 3400–3475 MHz and 3950–4000 MHz frequency bands.
• Proposed updates to RALI MS47 – Frequency coordination and licensing procedures for AWLs in the 3400–4000 MHz band.

These issues affect the same instruments and policy documents. Given that consultation would be required with similar industry sectors, we have decided to combine them into a single process.

You can find details of the proposals for each issue in the consultation paper in the key documents box. You can also access copies of the relevant draft or amended instruments and policy documents here.