Spectrum on the agenda at RadComms 2017

As the government’s spectrum reform program moves from review to legislation with the release of the exposure draft of the Radiocommunications Bill 2017, preparations for the ACMA’s next RadComms conference (1–2 November in Sydney) are well advanced. The Minister for Communications, Senator the Honourable Mitch Fifield will make the opening address to delegates on the morning of the first day of RadComms 2017. The following two days of presentations, discussions and debate will provide delegates with a unique opportunity to understand and influence the direction of spectrum reform in Australia, as well as gain insight into national and international developments in spectrum management.

Spectrum reform will be a major focus of the conference and this is reflected in the theme of ‘Spectrum reform — empowering users’. The Department of Communications and the Arts will report on development of the Radiocommunications Bill following the public consultation process that started in May. Spectrum users from the broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications sectors will provide their perspectives on the direction and impact of spectrum reform, and bring their expertise to more detailed discussions of specific aspects of the new legislation. This will enable delegates to contribute to the overall development of legislation by the department as well as to the ACMA’s approach to its implementation in areas ranging from accreditation rules, equipment rules, interference management and the single licensing framework.

The ACMA’s ongoing spectrum management activities will be another major element of RadComms. The latest Five Year Spectrum Outlook, the ACMA’s mobile broadband strategy and the auction program for spectrum allocations will be discussed by the ACMA and other stakeholders. A progress report on future use of the 3.6 GHz band (after the consultation process that started in June) will be of particular interest to many delegates, along with the AM-FM conversion program and planning for digital radio in regional Australia.

As has always been the case, RadComms will also look beyond our shores to the international developments that will influence and drive spectrum use in Australia in the years ahead. 5G is moving rapidly through the standardisation process, trials are underway around the world and its transformational impact — across the economy, in a range of industry sectors and on spectrum management itself — is becoming clearer. The contribution of small satellites to the Internet of Things is becoming clearer and the prospect for the seamless integration of new and existing satellite systems into terrestrial networks is rapidly emerging.

Finally, building on the success of last year, the ACMA will host smaller spectrum management events and activities in the days before and after RadComms 2017. A tune-up for licensees and stakeholders in the 800 MHz band has already been announced for Tuesday, 31 October. Planning is well advanced for other events that will be announced over the months ahead. To keep informed about RadComms 2017 and associated spectrum management events, visit the RadComms portal at www.acma.gov.au/radcomms and subscribe to the email update service.

Mark Loney is Executive Manager, Operations, Services & Technologies Branch, at the Australian Communications & Media Authority. Over the last 20 years, he has led the development, implementation and delivery of regulatory arrangements for broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications services. He played a key role in the establishment of the ACMA in 2005 and has been responsible for service delivery in Communications Infrastructure Division of the ACMA since 2009.

Spectrum image courtesy NIST.

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