Spectrum outlook

Assisting the government to achieve digital switchover, delivering key projects to address ongoing spectrum demand and planning for new services, have been identified as key tasks in the Australian Communications and Media Authority's key spectrum management roadmap, the Five-year spectrum outlook 2011-2015, published in March.

Now in its third edition, the outlook sets out the ACMA’s annual assessment of existing and future demand for spectrum and its work plan for managing spectrum on behalf of Australians from 2011 to 2015.

“The breadth of the work plan devised by the ACMA for the 2011-2015 Outlook reflects the reality that managing the high demand for spectrum and the supporting regulatory framework required is a complex challenge - even more so with rapid changes in technology and Australia's appetite for high data services increases,” said ACMA chairman Chris Chapman.

Projects identified in the work plan include:

• The progression of review outcomes for the 2.5 GHz and 400 MHz bands;
• Service planning for smart infrastructure and mobile broadband services;
• Review of the 900 MHz band;
• Continuing work on digital switchover, restack and allocation;
• Consideration of future arrangements for Earth station siting.

The outlook is one outcome of the authority's ongoing work with stakeholders about spectrum needs and complements the ACMA's annual Radcomms conference and Spectrum-Tune Up workshops. Wide-ranging input provided by spectrum users on the second Outlook have been taken into account in preparing this third edition.

The outlook will continue to be updated annually and is open to public comment at any time. Comments received before Wednesday 31 August 2011 will be considered for the next review of the outlook, to be published in the first quarter of 2012.