Radiocommunications 900 MHz Band Plan 1992

Radiocommunications 900 MHz Band Plan 1992

as amended

made under subsection 34 (1) of the

Radiocommunications Act 1992

This compilation was prepared on 11 July 2005
taking into account amendments up to 900 MHz Band Plan Variation 1999 (No. 1)

[Note: Section 4 of the Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992 (Act No. 167, 1992) provides that an instrument in force under the old Act (the Radiocommunications Act 1983) remains in force as if the instrument were made under the new Act (the Radiocommunications Act 1992)]

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

Contents

 1 Name of band plan [see Note 1]

 2 General 

 3 Interpretation 

 4 General purposes for band segments 

 5 Channelling arrangements for allocations 

 6 Status of allocations 

 7 Allocation commencement dates 

 9 Exemption from compliance with clauses 4 and 5 

Schedule  

Table 1 Primary services in the 820 – 960 Mhz band

Table 2 Secondary services in the 820 – 960 Mhz band

Table 3 Commencement dates for allocations 

Table 5 Channelling arrangements for allocations 

Figure 1 900 MHz Band Plan Diagram 

Notes  

1 Name of band plan [see Note 1]

  This band plan is the Radiocommunications 900 MHz Band Plan 1992.

2 General

  The following notes describe the intention of the 900 MHz Band Plan and outline the approach adopted for its implementation.

[General note: This general note and other notes in square brackets are intended to provide guidance in the operation of the Band Plan and are not intended to be part of the Band Plan.

2.1   The 820 – 960 MHz band currently supports a variety of radiocommunications services, including:

(a) the analogue AMPS cellular mobile telephone service;

(b) the trunked land mobile service;

(c) single channel, low capacity and wideband fixed services;

(d) radio broadcasting studio to transmitter links;

(e) miscellaneous low power fixed and mobile services; and

(f) radiolocation services.

2.2   The purpose of this Band Plan is primarily to facilitate the introduction of public mobile telecommunications competition in Australia, and, in particular, to provide spectrum allocations for cordless telephone services including public access cordless telephone services and provide for the transition from AMPS to digital cellular mobile telephone services using GSM technology.

2.3   The Band Plan aims to provide for the orderly continuation of existing services affected by the above allocations for public mobile telecommunications services.

2.4   Wherever possible, this is achieved by:

(a) providing alternative allocations for displaced services; and

(b) allowing for transitional arrangements within the 820 – 960 MHz band to facilitate implementation of the Band Plan; and

(c) allowing continued operation of existing services on a secondary basis where such operation will not inhibit the introduction of primary services.

2.5   The spectrum allocations in this Band Plan will affect most existing services to some extent.

2.6   Some existing equipment may require replacement, modification or a change in operating frequency to comply with the new Band Plan.

2.7   In some cases existing services will not be able to be accommodated in the 820 – 960 MHz band and will need to be accommodated in other bands.]

3 Interpretation

 (1) An expression used in this band plan that is not defined in subclause (2) has the meaning given in the first-mentioned of the following instruments, in which the expression is defined for the purposes of the instrument:

 (a) Radiocommunications Act 1992;

 (b) Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan as in force from time to time;

 (c) Radiocommunications (Definitions) Determination No. 2 of 1993 as in force from time to time;

 (d) Radiocommunications Regulations 1993.

Note   A reference to an Act or to regulations, as in para (a) and (d) above, is taken to be a reference to the Act or regulations as in force from time to time: see s 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

 (2) In this Band Plan, unless the contrary intention appears:

allocation means the purpose for which a segment or sub-band may be used.

allowed area means the geographic area in which services specified in this Band Plan may be operated.

AMPS means Advanced Mobile Phone System.

authorised means authorised by the ACA.

bandwidth means the frequency difference between the upper frequency limit and the lower frequency limit of a sub-band.

base receive means a segment which may be used at a base station for reception only.

base transmit means a segment which may be used at a base station for transmission only.

channel means a sub-band in a segment, with a specified centre frequency.

channelling refers to the frequency separation between two consecutive channel centre frequencies in the same segment.

digital cellular mobile telephone service means a cellular mobile telephone service within the meaning of the Radiocommunications (Definitions) Determination No. 2 of 1993 which incorporates digital modulation techniques to provide that service.

digital short range radio means a short range multi channel mobile service as specified in the European Technical Standards Institute draft interim technical standard I-ETS 300 168 as published and in force at the commencement of this Band Plan.

GSM means Global System for Mobile Communications.

land mobile service means a radiocommunications service between ambulatory stations on land and:

 (a) land stations; or

 (b) other ambulatory stations on land.

low capacity means a channel width of greater than 25 kHz but not exceeding 400 kHz.

point-to-multipoint means transmissions between a specified fixed station (control station) and two or more associated fixed stations (remote stations).

point-to-point means transmissions between two specified fixed stations.

primary service has the meaning given in Part 1 of the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan.

secondary service has the meaning given in Part 1 of the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan.

segment is a sub-band of the 820 – 960 MHz band as indicated by an item specified in Column 1 in Table 1 or Table 2 in the Schedule, to which the frequency range specified in Column 2 of that item applies.

single channel means a channel width of not greater than 25 kHz.

single frequency means a mode of operation in which transmissions can be made between two stations in either one or both directions, but not simultaneously, and in which only one channel is used.

sound outside broadcast link means a fixed service established for the purpose of temporary radio broadcasting coverage of an event such as a sporting match.

spread spectrum is a modulation technique in which the average energy of the transmitted signal is intentionally spread over a wide bandwidth.

studio to transmitter link means a fixed service which transmits radio broadcasting programme material from a broadcasting studio to a broadcasting transmitter.

sub-band means any part of the 820 – 960 MHz band.

trunked means a mode of operation in which base stations are used for communicating with mobile stations and in which a number of users share the use of two or more radio channels selected automatically by the base station.

two frequency means a mode of operation in which transmissions can be made between two stations, and in which two channels are used.

wideband means a channel width of greater than 200 kHz but not exceeding 2 MHz.

4 General purposes for band segments

  Subject to clause 9 of this Band Plan and Part 1 of the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan, the 820 – 960 MHz band, represented diagrammatically in Figure 1 in the Schedule, may only be used for a service:

 (a) which transmits or receives signals in a channel in the range specified in Column 2 of an item in Table 1 or Table 2 in the Schedule; and

 (b) whose purpose accords with the allocation specified in Column 3 of that item; and

 (c) in a geographic area specified in Column 4 of that item.

5 Channelling arrangements for allocations

 (1) Subject to subclauses 5 (2) and 9 (2) of this Band Plan and Part 1 of the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan, a service specified in Column 2 of an item in Table 5 in the Schedule operating in the 820 – 960 MHz band may only operate within:

 (a) a channel whose centre frequency is determined by the formula specified in Column 4 of an item in Table 5 in the Schedule, where the values of ‘n’ in the formula are specified in Column 5 in that item; and

 (b) a channel bandwidth as specified in Column 6 of that item.

 (2) Channelling arrangements other than those specified by subclause 5 (1) may be authorised where such arrangements provide for more efficient use of the spectrum, as compared to the channelling arrangements specified for that segment.

[Note   In determining the spectrum efficiency of a service, without limiting the range of matters which may be taken into account, the following matters may be considered:

(a) occupied bandwidth;

(b) adjacent channel performance;

(c) the distance from the transmitter that the channel may be used again without causing harmful interference; and

(d) the impact that introduction of the service will have upon existing services.]

6 Status of allocations

 (1) A service specified in Table 1 in the Schedule is a primary service.

 (2) A service specified in Table 2 in the Schedule is a secondary service.

7 Allocation commencement dates

 (1) Subject to subclause 7 (2), the allocations specified in this Band Plan take effect on commencement of this Band Plan.

 (2) An allocation specified in Column 2 of an item in Table 3 in the Schedule to a sub-band specified in Column 3 of that item, is to have effect from the date specified in Column 4 of that item.

9 Exemption from compliance with clauses 4 and 5

 (1) A service currently operating with technical or operational characteristics other than those specified by clause 4 or subclause 5 (1) may continue to operate as a secondary service.

 (2) Any segment of the 820 – 960 MHz band may be authorised to be used temporarily for purposes or with technical or operational characteristics other than those specified in the Band Plan for that segment on a transitional basis to facilitate the implementation of this Band Plan.

Schedule    

Table 1 Primary services in the 820 – 960 Mhz band [Note 1]

Note 1   The allocations for these primary services are represented in Figure 1: 900 MHz Band Plan Diagram.

Note 2   Segments referenced by this note may be authorised for use by users of:

(1) land mobile services (two frequency), if such services are used in conjunction with a land mobile service (trunked); or

(2) other land mobile services that make equivalent or more efficient use of the spectrum, as compared to the designated service allocation.

Note 3   Equipment used in this service must comply with relevant ACA technical standards.  The equipment may also be authorised for an additional telecommunications service in this segment.  If so, the allocation commencement date of the additional service is the date specified in Table 3 for a service allocation of the same kind as the additional service.

Note 4   The 825 – 835 MHz and 870 – 880 MHz sub-bands are allocated
to the cellular mobile service Australia wide. In the 835 – 845 MHz and 880 – 890 MHz sub-bands cellular mobile telephone service base station operation on a primary basis is restricted to locations within 100 km of Sydney and Melbourne General Post Offices only. On 1 January 1995 this service will become a secondary service in the 835 – 845 MHz and 880 – 890 MHz sub-bands in those locations; see Table 2.

Note 5   The University of Sydney operates the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) located about 30 km east of Canberra at latitude 35 22 30 S, longitude 149 25 35E. The telescope has a receive frequency of 843 MHz with a bandwidth of +/- 1.5 MHz. While an allocation has not been made to the radioastronomy service in this band, all practicable steps will be taken to protect the MOST radio telescope from harmful interference.

Note 6   No new assignments will be made for this service in this segment.

Note 7   Allocation commencement dates apply; see Table 3.

Note 8   The allocation for this service includes provision for Studio to Transmitter Links.

Note 9   This segment includes point-to-point and point-to-multipoint services. Point-to-point services occupy the 852 – 853.5 MHz and 928 – 929.5 MHz sub-bands. Point-to-multipoint services occupy the 853.5 – 854 MHz and 929.5 – 930 MHz sub-bands.

Note 10   Assignments to users other than the Department of Defence or the Australian Defence Force will not normally be authorised for this service.

Note 11   Special licensing and coordination arrangements apply to this service.

Note 12   Assignments for this service are normally limited to those required to accommodate fixed services that are required to vacate other segments of the Band.

Note 13   This service is affected by Spectrum Re-allocation Declaration No. 1 of 1997, which sets out a re-allocation period ending on 21 July 1999.

Note 14   This service is affected by Spectrum Re-allocation Declaration No. 2 of 1997, which, for certain areas, sets out a re‑allocation period ending on 31 December 1999.

Table 2 Secondary services in the 820 – 960 Mhz band [Note 1]

Note 1   The allocations for these secondary services are represented in Figure 1: 900 MHz Band Plan Diagram.

Note 2   The 835 – 845 MHz and 880 – 890 MHz sub-bands are allocated on a secondary basis to this service Australia Wide except within 100 km of Sydney and Melbourne General Post Offices, where primary use applies until 1 January 1995 (see Table 1). From this date, these sub-bands become secondary within 100 km of Sydney and Melbourne General Post Offices. Requests for assignments in these secondary allocations will be considered on a case by case basis.

Note 3   Assignments to users other than the Department of Defence or the Australian Defence Force will not normally be authorised for this service. In this segment the service is primary in offshore areas.

Note 4   The allocation for these services includes provision for wireless audio transmitters, spread spectrum systems and radio frefquency identification transmitters.

Note 5   Assignments for these services are normally limited to those operating digital cellular mobile telephone services. They will be made within the same bandwidth as the particular operator’s digital cellular mobile telephone service.

Note 6   This service is subject to Spectrum Re-allocation Declaration No. 1 of 1997, which sets out a re-allocation period ending on 21 July 1999.

Table 3 Commencement dates for allocations

Note 1   This allocation commencement date applies to this service only within 200 km of Sydney and Melbourne General Post Offices. Beyond this distance the allocation takes effect from the making of this Band Plan.

Table 5 Channelling arrangements for allocations

Note 1   Where a demonstrated need exists for 25 kHz operation, two contiguous 12.5 kHz channels may be assigned frequencies offset by 6.25 kHz between the channel centre frequencies given by this formula.

Note 2   These channels are for use by remote station transmitters.

Note 3   These channels are for use by control station transmitters.

Figure 1 900 MHz Band Plan Diagram

Note 1   Acronyms have the following meanings:

Note 2   Services printed in capital letters are primary services, see Table 1.

Note 3   Services printed in lower case are secondary services, see Table 2.

Note 4   For circled notes, see Table 1.

Note 5   For boxed notes, see Table 2.

Note 6   Spectrum Re-allocation Declaration No. 1 of 1997 sets out a re-allocation period ending on 21 July 1999 for the following frequency bands:

 (a) 825 MHz to 830 MHz;

 (b) 835 MHz to 845 MHz;

 (c) 870 MHz to 875 MHz;

 (d) 880 MHz to 880 MHz.

Note 7   Spectrum Re-allocation Declaration No. 2 of 1997 applies to certain areas, and sets out a re-allocation period ending on 31 December 1999 for the following frequency bands:

 (a) 830 MHz to 835 MHz;

 (b) 875 MHz to 880 MHz.

Notes to the Radiocommunications 900 MHz Band Plan 1992

Note 1

The Radiocommunications 900 MHz Band Plan 1992 (in force under subsection 34 (1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Table of Amendments