Appendix B (ARCHIVED)

Future Demand - Your estimates of the market demand for fixed radio link service in the 5.8 GHz band will assist the Ministry to plan for the future. Any responses will be treated in confidence and will only be used to evaluate the future demand for FRL spectrum.

There are separate questions for Equipment Suppliers and Network Operators/users.

What are your sales to date of equipment which is being used for fixed radio links in the 5.8 GHz band with a radiated power greater than 4 Watts?

What are your estimated sales over the next 3 years for equipment to be used for fixed radio links in the 5.8 GHz band with a radiated power greater than 4 Watts?

How many fixed radio links in the 5.8 GHz band have you installed and/or use which have a radiated power greater than 4 Watts?

What is your estimate of the number of fixed radio links in the 5.8 GHz band with a radiated power greater than 4 Watts you will install over the next 3 years?

The GURL for fixed radio links in the 5.8GHz band is issued with the express condition that:

"Frequency use is on a shared basis and the chief executive does not accept liability under any circumstances for any loss or damage of any kind occasioned by the unavailability of frequencies or interference to reception".

To manage potential and actual interference the MED does encourage coordination amongst users, particularly in areas where there is high usage. Since the FRL spectrum is shared with Short Range Devices it is likely that there will be a growing need for local coordination as the usage increases.

Have you experienced any actual or suspected radio interference with any Fixed Radio Link equipment operating in the 5725 to 5825 MHz band? (This may be interference into your equipment or from your equipment into other services). Please give details.

How do you see local coordination working in areas of interest to you? Have you been involved in any coordination actions?

Any other comments on interference management and coordination within the 5725 to 5825 MHz band?

Technical Details

The technical details of the GURL were based on similar regulations issued by the FCC in USA for Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) networks (For technical details and definitions refer to ref 2, section 15.401). The U-NII equipment uses wideband digital modulation techniques in the 5725 to 5825 MHz band to provide high data rate communications in a national network.

The FCC also allow operation of point to point links in the band 5825 to 5850 MHz using digital modulation or frequency hopping technologies (ref 2, section 15.247 (b) (4) (ii)). This provides for fixed links which not used for the wide band U-NII service.

In your estimation is there any demand in New Zealand for FRL services outside of the band 5725 to 5825 MHz?

Are there any other technical issues relevant to this review which you wish to comment on?

Any Other Comments:

Here is your opportunity to make any other comments on the implications of removing the limited term or any other issues related to the GURL