ARCIA responds to 803-960 MHz band review paper

The Australian Radio Communications Industry Association (ARCIA) has presented an industry response to the ACMA 803-960 MHz band review discussion paper.

The association gathered many responses from its members and the overall radio industry to compile a detailed document that represents the industry’s views on the ACMA’s decisions. ARCIA also held discussions with the Australian TETRA Forum, APCO Australasia and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria.

The ACMA discussion paper features sections relating to trunked radio allocations and TETRA systems in major developments for the resources sector, as well as the fixed links that operate many of the VHF and 400 MHz systems in remote areas.

As ARCIA quotes in the response paper, “ARCIA is pleased to be recognised as the ‘peak industry body’ for the land mobile radio industry and as such we have a detailed interest in the 803-960 MHz band. The services within this band are crucial to the effective utilisation of land mobile radio services and will have a direct influence on major Australian resource projects and the efficiency and economical viability of the same. In particular, trunked radio services are a critical element of the resource developments and, with the most suitable communications technology being TETRA trunked radio, the need for 800 MHz trunking spectrum is underlined.”

The association provided its views on CMTS carriers and their need for spectrum in the paper, discussing the spectrum need for the LMR industry.

“In preparing our response, we may seem critical of the CMTS carriers and their ‘thirst for spectrum’. Whilst this is to some extent true, the carriers will have broader options for other spectrums potentially above 2 GHz.

“The LMR industry is more specialised and relies on larger coverage footprint per site to enable economically viable network deployment of the resilient and redundant standard required, together with the higher availability specifications that are usually mandated due to the mission critical nature of voice and data transfers. Such networks rely on resilient backbone transmission networks and many sites have no options other than wireless linking (P-P and P-MP) to support user coverage requirements.”

ARCIA welcomes comment on the response for further discussions on the segment of the spectrum.

For more information and to view the response paper, please visit the ARCIA website.

To view the ACMA discussion paper on the 803-960 MHz band review, please visit the ACMA website.