Uniting the New Zealand radio community

The Radio Frequency Users Association of NZ Inc (RFUANZ) is a not-for-profit organisation with members who hold radio licences in New Zealand (power companies, local government authorities, transport operators, forestry companies and radio network operators) as well as those who have an interest in the radio communications industry (consultants, manufacturers and suppliers to the industry).

Established 23 years ago, RFUANZ’s main purpose is to unite the industry with one voice, and to lobby government for more spectrum at a lower cost. The association’s prime objectives are to protect the availability and access of spectrum in New Zealand; support, grow and enhance the radio communications industry in NZ; and to encourage the proper use of radio communications equipment.

Some of the challenges we face in 2019 include: policing the importation of illegal radios; overcoming the obstacles of using these cheaper radios within the industry; access to more spectrum; encouraging the uptake in the newly released G Band (174–184 MHz) in New Zealand; and encouraging uptake in our newly released NZQA Training program.

We recently held two successful breakfast forums in Christchurch and Auckland, with guest speaker Daniel Ephraty, Director of Sales Engineering at Siklu Communication (UK). Daniel’s presentation included the cost-effective alternatives to fibre, being, Siklu V Band/E Band (60/70/80GHz) mmWave technology. Daniel also spoke of his 20 years’ experience in wireless point-to-point systems, ranging from systems design, through implementation, product management, to presale. In the last three years he has specialised in E Band technology. He also shared his experience in mmWave technology installations and propagation properties, and reflected on how far the industry has come in the last eight years and what is happening in the overseas marketplace.

We had very favourable feedback about Daniel’s presentations, and we would like to thank Dale Roberts (Go Wireless) for co-sponsoring these forums and arranging for Daniel to travel all this way. The RFUANZ committee is now looking at holding other such events; not only are they informative, but are an opportunity to network with others in the industry at a more localised level.

The committee invites you to attend our annual conference, held in conjunction with Comms Connect, in Auckland at the Sky City Convention Centre, 1–2 May. The RFUANZ AGM will be held on the first day of this conference, while that evening will see the exciting Awards & Gala Dinner night at St Matthews in the City (approximately 500 metres across the road from the conference).

The conference will be an opportunity to network with like-minded companies in the radio industry and learn from the many and varied forums the conference has to offer. This year sees the industry focusing more and more on more effective communications in the public safety sector as technologies and capabilities grow in order to improve first responder safety and operations across the industry. Please contact Debby Morgan (admin@rfuanz.org.nz) for further details. I hope to see you there.

Corey Weir

Chairman, RFUANZ

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