RSM's monthly spectrum update

New Zealand’s Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) has announced that it has completed a full review of the ‘Table of Radio Spectrum Usage in New Zealand (PIB 21)’.

The review was undertaken as part of New Zealand’s obligation as an ITU Member State in ratifying the amendments to the International Radio Regulations (IRR) adopted by the Final Acts of 2015 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-15).

In its monthly update newsletter, RSM said that the changes in PIB 21 are largely in alignment with the 2016 edition of the IRR, which enter into force on 1 January 2017.

As a result of the changes in PIB 21, RSM has also made some minor amendments to the frequency boundaries for fixed services as contained in the ‘Fixed Service bands in New Zealand (PIB 22)’.

RSM has also advised that the Radiocommunications Regulations (General User Radio Licence for Ultra-Wide Band Devices) Notice has been updated to allow for in-ground transmitters installed in outdoor environments.

The notice includes a provision that allows for the deployment of UWB devices in an outdoor environment, provided that emissions are generally limited to below the horizontal plane and within specific power spectral density limits in the frequency ranges 4.2 to 4.8 GHz and 6.0 to 6.8 GHz.

The Gazette Notice can be viewed online from 2 February.

RSM has reminded interested industry parties that they have until 15 February 2017 to provide feedback on the draft Five Year Spectrum Outlook for 2017–2021, which was released for consultation in December 2016.

The draft reviews emerging wireless technologies affecting the use of the radio spectrum and outlines the indicative RSM work program for 2017–21 that links recent international developments in spectrum allocations.

Finally, RSM has also announced the retirement of two long-serving members of the RSM Compliance team.

Paul Paterson and Chris Brennan joined the Post Office Radio Inspection branch in 1971 and 1972 respectively. Their work in spectrum management continued from the NZ Post Office, through the Department of Trade & Industry, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Economic Development to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

New Compliance team contacts are Mervyn Frericks (mervyn.frericks@mbie.govt.nz), based in the Wellington RSM office, and Fadia Mudafar (fadia.mudafar@mbie.govt.nz) based in the Auckland RSM office.

Image courtesy RSM.

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