Comments sought on Air Interface Standard 2022

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is proposing to make a new Telecommunications (Mobile Equipment Air Interface) Technical Standard 2022 to replace the existing Telecommunications (Mobile Equipment Air Interface) Standard 2018. The proposed new Air Interface Standard 2022 incorporates Communications Alliance’s new 5G industry standard, as well as other recent industry standards.

It is intended that the new Air Interface Standard 2022 will update the applicable industry standards and apply the existing safeguards to new 5G technology. The latest industry standards to be incorporated include clarification of the emergency call arrangements and changes to the terminology used in those standards to align with the new 5G industry standard.

Other than a proposal to change the duration of the default ACMA transition period for any amendment or replacement of an applicable standard, the proposed Air Interface Standard 2022 is not intended to change the substantive provisions of the existing Air Interface Standard 2018.

The AS/CA S042.1:2022 Standard applies to Customer Equipment (CE) that is designed or intended for connection to: a public mobile telecommunications service (PMTS) that is an addressable device; or a satellite service that is an addressable device; or both.‍ An addressable device means a device that enables a carriage service provider to identify the device when used for two-way communications on a public mobile telecommunications service or a satellite service supplied by the carriage service provider.

The purpose of this technical standard is to help protect the integrity of a telecommunications network or a facility; plus the health and safety of people who operate, work on, use or may be affected by the operation of a telecommunications network or facility.

It is also intended to ensure that customer equipment can be used to give access to an emergency call service; and is interoperable with a telecommunications network.

In the new version, the following main changes were made:

• updated standard references;
• added acronyms and definitions according to the new Part 5 for IMT-2020 Customer Equipment (CE);
• applied new term ECS Access Mode instead of the STS Access Mode term;
• added ECS requirements with device identifiers used by 5G CE;
• specified new Permanent Equipment Identifier (PEI) for 5G CE.
   

‍The AS/CA S042.5:2022 Standard applies to IMT-2020 CE and defines the technical conditions and requirements for IMT CE that is designed or intended for use in connection with an IMT-2020 PMTS that are based on the: 5G new radio; and 5G new radio and E-UTRA (LTE).

ACMA is seeking comments, by the 12 September, on:

1. the proposed Air Interface Standard 2022;
2. the proposed consequential amendments to the Telecommunications Labelling Notice.

For more information, go here.

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