Backhaul: the industry 25 and 10 years ago (July 2018)

25 YEARS AGO. The cover of the August/September 1993 issue of What’s New in Radio Communications featured the Transcom Communication System MD3000 mobile data terminal and associated mobile data link controllers, suitable for users looking for a turnkey data solution. Inside the magazine, we reported on Optus Communications and Gascoyne Trading (a transport company) announcing Transtracs, a satellite service that would track vehicles and also send back data on engine parameters, speed and so on. We also reported on Motorola Communications relocating its Victorian land mobile sales and national parts divisions from West Melbourne to South Melbourne, with the company’s headquarters to shift to Scoresby. Telstra Marine announced the availability of two new Radphone channels (12 and 16 MHz) for land and maritime use. And speaking of Telstra, it was announced around this time in 1993 that Telstra Corporation Limited was the new name for the Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation, which had been formed from the merger of Telecom Australia and OTC.

10 YEARS AGO. The cover of the July/August 2008 issue of Radio Comms Asia-Pacific featured the launch of the Motorola MOTOTRBO, “a digital alternative that turns the traditional two-way radio into a trackable IP-based communications workstation”. In this issue we reported on the ACMA developing a draft marketing plan proposing a revised technical framework (or operating conditions) for spectrum licences in the 2.3 GHz band, which would enable allocation of residual, unencumbered spectrum in the band in rural and remote areas of Australia. Simultaneously, major changes to the 403–520 MHz spectrum range were being mooted, and the ACMA was looking at measures needed to achieve a better balance between government and broader community use of the radiofrequency spectrum. A three-day ACMA conference, headed by Authority chair Chris Chapman, was held in Melbourne to discuss these and other spectrum matters.

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