ACMA to deliver spectrum solution to support public safety agencies

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has announced its approach to meeting important future spectrum needs of Australia’s public safety agencies.

The cornerstone of the approach is the provision of an additional 60 MHz of spectrum across a number of bands to facilitate the deployment of high-speed, nationally interoperable mobile broadband networks by the agencies.

“Australia’s public safety agencies are critical to the safety and security of the community,” said ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman. “The ACMA places the highest degree of importance on providing spectrum to support dedicated networks that support public safety operations.

“The measures announced today will meet two specific needs identified by Australia’s public safety agencies - the need for wide-ranging 4G coverage, together with very high-capacity, short-range coverage for specific incidents and in high-demand areas.”

Following an analysis conducted in conjunction with public safety agencies through the Public Safety Mobile Broadband Steering Committee, the ACMA is making 10 MHz of spectrum from the 800 MHz band available for the deployment of a nationally interoperable public safety mobile broadband network. This band supports 4G (LTE) systems and technologies.

A further 50 MHz of spectrum from the 4.9 GHz band will also be provided for use nationwide by public safety agencies.

“These measures build on previously announced arrangements expanding capacity in the 400 MHz band and lay the foundation for the deployment of multilayer, flexible and interoperable networks. The ACMA’s approach represents a ‘state-of-the-art’ public safety spectrum solution that should facilitate voice, data and video communications for Australia’s public safety agencies long into the future,” Chris Chapman said.

The details of the announcement are in two papers. The first details the ACMA’s overarching strategy for spectrum for public safety radiocommunications (including the provision of spectrum in the 800 MHz band). The ACMA will continue to work with public safety agencies on the development of an appropriate licensing framework as part of the ongoing review of the 803-960 MHz band, with a discussion paper to be released in December.

The second paper outlines arrangements for spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band.