2.2 Proposed New Zealand allocation

Currently there are no specific New Zealand allocations to services in these frequency bands. ¹⁰ It is noted that the use of these bands for satellite services is not likely as the relatively high atmospheric absorption makes space to Earth propagation difficult.

To use these bands for fixed point to point services requires the deployment of high gain narrow beam antennas. Without such high gain antennas communications with the current transmitter technology would be limited to a few metres. This would suggest that the use of these frequency bands for practical mobile or broadcasting use is not likely at this stage in the development of the technology.

The Auckland University of Technology Centre for Radiophysics and Space Research has confirmed that these bands are not used now and are unlikely to be used in the near future for space science services in New Zealand. If it is later decided to use the bands for space science then the compatibility with the fixed service is likely to be high due to the very narrow beams employed and propagation being strictly limited to line of sight paths. As the future New Zealand space science needs are not well defined, Radio Astronomy and Space Research services would remain with their existing allocation status.

The Amateur and Amateur Satellite service allowed under footnote 5.561A and Space Research services are of a secondary status in the ITU allocations and no change to its application in New Zealand is proposed.

Footnote

¹⁰Reference to the MED publication PIB 21 see www.med.govt.nz/rsm . There is a New Zealand allocation is in the band 81-84 GHz for vehicle collision avoidance radar. It is assumed that this entry should have been placed against the adjacent band 79-81 MHz which is the international band used for this purpose.