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Appendix B: Harmonisation of SRD Spectrum Allocations with Australia
Radio Frequency Identification Devices
The licences covering SRD in Australia are referred to as "Class Licences". The relevant Class Licences are:
- Radiocommunications Class Licence (Low Interference Potential Devices) 2000 (LIPD Class Licence).
- Radiocommunications Class Licence (Radio-controlled Models) 2002;
- Radiocommunications Class Licence (Infrared Devices) 2002; and
- Radiocommunications Class Licence (Spread Spectrum Devices) 2002.
The separate Class Licence for spread spectrum devices is anticipated to be absorbed into the LIPD licence in the near future.
These licences cover the same devices as the New Zealand GURL for SRD. A number of the frequency bands and conditions of use are similar. There are also major discrepancies but many of these are not covered in this paper because they apply to legacy applications which were not subject to this review.
In the markets which have been considered in this review there is a relatively high degree of harmonisation. The key discrepancies are:
- Allocation of less bandwidth in New Zealand in the 902 to 918MHz band which constrains its use for WLAN and RFID.
- Allocation in the 5.8GHz band for 200W e.i.r.p. fixed links in New Zealand only
- Allocation at 135kHz suitable for RFID in New Zealand only.
- Allocation in the 864 to 870MHz band suitable for RFID in New Zealand only.
- Allocations of various bands for medical telemetry in New Zealand and Australia which do not align.
The following is a summary comparison of the applications considered in this review. More technical details are provided in the main text of the review paper.
Wireless LANs
In the band 902 to 918MHz Australia provides 13MHz for LIPD while New Zealand provides 8MHz. New Zealand has difficulty expanding this band because of existing STL allocations. The result is that equipment designed for the North American market is likely to be able to operate in Australia but not New Zealand.
In the band 2400 to 2483.5MHz there is very close harmonisation of the allocations
In the band 5150 to 5875MHz both countries currently have similar allocations. Both are considering migrating to the requirements of ITU-R Resolution 229 which will almost complete the harmonisation of this band. The one difference which is likely to remain is the GURL which allows for up to 200W e.i.r.p. point-to-point links in the 5725 to 5825MHz band in New Zealand (as also permitted in USA). Australia has expressed an intention not to allow such applications under their LIPD Class Licence. However they have recently released a discussion paper which proposes 200W point to point links to be permitted in rural areas under individual licensing on a no interference, no protection basis.
Radio Frequency Identification Devices
The band around 135kHz is available for RFID in New Zealand with a current radiated power of 10mW. Australia only allows 3µW which is insufficient for an RFID reader.
The bands around 13.56 and 433MHz are available in both countries for RFID.
Within the band 864 to 870MHz New Zealand has an allocation of 4MHz for unrestricted SRD use up to 1W which would enable RFID to be used. Australia only has 1MHz available for LIPD and this is currently restricted to cordless phones. Neither country has the full 6MHz band used in Europe available for this application.
In the band 902 to 928MHz Australia provides 13MHz for LIPD while New Zealand provides 8MHz in the band 921 to 929MHz. New Zealand has difficulty expanding this band because of existing STL allocations. The result is that equipment designed for the North American market is likely to be able to operate in Australia but not New Zealand.
In the band 2400 to 2483.5MHz there is very close harmonisation of the allocations
Medical Telemetry
The band 402 to 406MHz is under consideration for MICS use in Australia to align with the ITU-R Recommendation SA 1346. This review paper proposes the same allocation for New Zealand.
There are a variety of other medical telemetry allocations in both countries but they do not align. New Zealand has several bands in the 410 to 470MHz band while Australia has some allocations within the VHF and UHF TV bands.
Very Low Power Audio Senders
New Zealand currently does not permit any very low power transmissions in the FMBC band (except tunnel systems). It is proposed in this review to include very low power devices in the GURL for SRD as permitted in USA. Australia already permits low power devices for wireless audio and auditory assistance with a higher maximum power than that permitted in USA.
Audio Video Senders
New Zealand has a specific allocation for AV senders whereas Australia does not. This review proposes that the current New Zealand allocation be extended to include radio microphones, aligning it more closely with the Australian allocation for wireless audio in the same band.
Ultra Wide Band
Neither country has made any allowance for UWB devices at this time.
