Dear 802.18 participants,
cc. 802.11, 802.15, 802.19 participants,
Following the consultation in June/July 2024, Australia ACMA released its decision on 17 December 2024 on the upper 6 GHz band. In particular, the administration " decided that the best use of the band will be achieved by making arrangements for both services on a frequency split basis, consistent with the so-called ‘hybrid’ option presented in our paper". See
https://www.acma.gov.au/consultations/2024-05/planning-options-upper-6-ghz-band.
I copied and pasted the 3 paragraphs from the outcome paper here for your convenience:
To include the frequency range 6425–6585 MHz into the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class licence 2015 (LIPD class licence), when it is next updated, to support RLAN use. When aggregated with the existing 500 MHz already in place for RLANs in the lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz), this means that 2 x 320 MHz, 4 x 160 MHz or various other combinations of 40, 80 160 and/or 320 MHz Wi-Fi channels can be used in a given location. These new arrangements will come into effect when we remake the LIPD class licence before it sunsets in October 2025
That the frequency range for 65852 –7100 MHz will be reserved for WA WBB in yet to be defined metro areas/regional centres. We refer to these as ‘defined population areas’ in this paper. 3 This is subject to us being satisfied that the market for the manufacturing of equipment in this frequency range to support WA WBB will be established. The development of such equipment manufacturing is dependent on international regulatory bodies such as the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) and/or the Indian administration indicating they are inclined to allocate spectrum in this range for WA WBB. The earliest date that we may get an understanding of where CEPT is heading is March 2025, when they release their interim coexistence study.4 We will not commence implementing WA WBB arrangements until this uncertainty surrounding the future establishment of suitable equipment markets has been resolved. If relevant international markets are inclined not to allocate this spectrum range for WA WBB, we will update stakeholders on our position.
In the range 6585–7100 MHz (minus a potential guard band) outside defined population areas, we will consult on the introduction of arrangements that support apparatus-licensed WBB services on a coordinated basis with incumbent services. This would provide access for localised WBB access to the band. This would be suitable for a range of WBB use-cases, including expanding the capacity WBB networks in other bands, as well as for wireless internet service providers or private networks using Wi-Fi technologies (including ‘standard power’ Wi-Fi on a coordinated basis), or IMT-based technologies when equipment becomes available.
As a separate but related note, we will have an invited presentation from a specialist from Australia ACMA on this topic in our January 2025 IEEE 802.18 closing meeting on 16 January 2025.
Regards,
Edward
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