Digital land mobile radio in VHF and UHF bands

Consultation on Digital Land Mobile Radio in the VHF and UHF bands

The outcomes of ‘Digital Land Mobile Radio in VHF and UHF Bands’ the were implemented in late 2009 with many bands opened for the licensing of digital Land Mobile Radio services

In July 2009 the Ministry released a discussion paper to facilitate industry consultation on the introduction of digital LMR technologies into the commercial land mobile bands located in the VHF and UHF parts of the radio spectrum.

Land mobile radio (LMR) is a radiocommunications service used by law enforcement, public safety and emergency responders, as well as commercial operators such as the transportation sector, utility companies, construction, and security companies. Digital LMR technologies use the radio spectrum more efficiently and provide more robust communications than analogue LMR technologies. Digital systems also have enhanced capabilities, such as better voice quality, short messaging and data services, GPS tracking and encryption.

Digital technologies have already been successfully introduced into one commercial LMR band (the 800 MHz TS band) to coexist with incumbent analogue technologies. This discussion paper consulted on the expansion of the licensing of digital LMR technologies to include the remaining commercial LMR bands. Land mobile bands assigned for government purposes (public protection and disaster relief) have already introduced digital LMR. The Ministry proposed to align New Zealand’s licensing framework for commercial digital LMR with international practice.

Submissions on the proposals contained in this paper closed on 4 September 2009.

Implementation 

Late 2009 the digital land mobile licensing was opened in certain bands, please refer to the following:

Radio Licence Policy Rules (PIB 58)
Channel plans: Mobile Service Bands in New Zealand (PIB 23)
Certification rules: Radio Licence Certification Rules (PIB 38)
Radio Standards: Radiocomunications (Radio Standards) Notice

Frequently asked questions

MED wishes to formally advise current licence holders of 25 kHz analogue land mobile channels about the licensing changes taking place in the VHF and UHF land mobile bands, following the outcomes of the public consultations carried out in 2008 and 2009.