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Appendix 1
502-806 MHz (UHF TV)
Analogue TV services currently operate in the 502-806 MHz band in New Zealand.
Current Policy
While rights expire in 2010, agreements have been entered in to for renewal of analogue rights for a further 10 years. Planning is currently underway to enable the introduction of digital TV services and the Government is arranging the creation of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) licences in this band. The Government has agreed to consult with the industry in developing criteria and a process for analogue switch off (ASO).
Allocation Opportunities
The Cost Benefit Analysis carried out for DTT recognizes that a significant amount of this band could be available for other uses after ASO. Internationally, this is referred to as the "Digital Dividend". BWA could be a contender for use of the vacated spectrum, along with DTT, after analogue switch-off.
With the use of such new technologies as Cognitive Radio, it may be possible to use UHF TV band for BWA even prior to analogue switch-off.
800-900 MHz
This part of the spectrum is under private band management and is used for 2G and 3G cellular services.
Current Policy
Replacement rights will be offered to incumbent rightholders five years before expiry, as per existing renewal of rights policy. A process is now under way for determining an appropriate methodology to calculate a renewal price for these rights that expire in 2011, that would approximate a fair market value and produce a fair return to the Crown.
If the renewal offer is not accepted, the rights will be auctioned.
Allocation Opportunities
Current band managers have the opportunity to utilise this band to continue to deliver mobile broadband.
1.8 GHz
This part of the spectrum is under private band management and is used for fixed wireless linking, with some additional 2.5G cellular use.
Alternative uses include 2G and 3G cellular telephony and WiMAX-based BWA services.
WiMAX-based equipment for use in this band is currently being considered in Korea.
Current Policy
This band is under private ownership as Management Rights. Renewal arrangements are to be finalised five years before expiry, as per existing renewal of rights policy.
Allocation Opportunities
Some spectrum in this band is unused and there is opportunity for greater use. As the Management Rights do not come up for renewal until 2021, current band managers have the opportunity to use this band for the delivery of broadband in the future, either via entering into commercial arrangements with other interested parties or by themselves.
2.1 GHz
This band is the primary band used for 3G cellular employing the W-CDMA standard. A part of this spectrum is used for 3G cellular in New Zealand.
Current Policy
This band is under private ownership as Management Rights. Renewal arrangements are to be finalised five years before expiry, as per existing renewal of rights policy.
Allocation Opportunities
Some spectrum is unused and there is opportunity for greater use. As the Management Rights do not come up for renewal until 2021, current band managers have the opportunity to use this band for the delivery of broadband in the future, either via entering into commercial arrangements with other interested parties or by themselves.
2.2 GHz (1098 Plan)
In 2000, in addition to the spectrum suitable for 3G cellular applications, the Government sold a number of management rights based on ITU-R Recommendation F.1098 Fixed Service (point-to-point) channel plan. Fortuitously this channel plan accommodates BWA applications around 2 GHz (Please refer to Table 2 above) with two (out of the three) private band managers deploying BWA services in this spectrum.
Current Policy
This band is under private ownership as Management Rights. Renewal arrangements are to be finalised five years before expiry, as per existing renewal of rights policy.
Allocation Opportunities
Current band managers are already using this band for the delivery of wireless broadband and Management Rights do not come up for renewal until 2021.
2.4 GHz
The 2.400-2.4835 GHz band is currently operated as a "public park" in New Zealand under a GURL, and is largely used for local wireless LANs (WiFi). It is also used for household and industrial microwave ovens and such short-range devices as garage door openers and cordless phones.
Current Policy
Current policy is to maintain the allocation to the Mobile Service, and maintain band access for WLAN use via a GURL under the Radio Licensing Regime.
2.7 GHz
This band is currently used for Aeronautical Navigation, Radiolocation (including RADAR) and TV outside broadcast linking, operating under radio licences issued by the Crown. Services in support of Television Broadcasting are on a user co-ordinated basis. Sharing with the Aeronautical Navigation and Radiolocation service is possible due to the offshore use within New Zealand territorial waters.
Although this band has been identified as suitable for WiMAX and IMT-Advanced in the future, it has been earmarked as a potential transition band for 2.5 GHz TV outside broadcast links in New Zealand. It should be noted that this band does not contain an international allocation to the Fixed or Mobile service, and its use in New Zealand for Television Outside Broadcast is by exception using Article 4.4 of the International Radio Regulations.
Current Policy
The Ministry has no plans to change the current allocation.
3.5 GHz
Nine paired lots in the 3.5 GHz band, each of 2×7 MHz bandwidth, were sold by auction as nationwide management rights in 2002 for the deployment of wireless voice and data networks as an alternative to the copper local loop infrastructure. Three lots each were purchased by TelstraClear and BCL, two by Counties Power and one by Vodafone. Two lots were retained by the Crown for later release, to support the deployment of local and regional wireless networks, and these are currently (mid-2006) being allocated as area spectrum licences. The rights expire in 2022.
Diagram 4: 3.5 GHz Spectrum Holdings
Long Description of Diagram 4
In November 2005 the two management rights owned by Counties Power were sold privately to Compass Communications and Telecom respectively.
To date little use has been made of this spectrum. TelstraClear operates telephony links in this spectrum in eleven urban centres, and the Wired Country subsidiary of Compass Communications is operating an Auckland-based wireless network in this band for Project PROBE.
Fixed WiMAX-based equipment for use in this band is currently available and is being trialled in New Zealand. Additionally a number of proprietary radio systems are available for use e.g. Airspan Wireless DSL.
The three individually owned spectrum blocks may not be adequate to deploy a nationwide WiMAX network with ubiquitous coverage, however may be sufficient for regional and local deployment of WiMAX in specific areas.
Current Policy
This band is under private ownership as Management Rights, some as Spectrum Licences (first to support project PROBE, second on regional TLA basis). Renewal arrangements are to be finalised five years before expiry, as per existing renewal of rights policy.
Allocation Opportunities
Rights in this spectrum band do not come up for renewal until 2022. Current band managers have the opportunity to use this band for the delivery of broadband either via entering into commercial arrangements with other interested parties or by themselves.
5.8 GHz
The 5.725-5.875 GHz band is currently operated as a "public park" in New Zealand under a GURL, and is largely used for local wireless LANs21 and longer distance fixed point-to-point linking based on the US unlicensed national information infrastructure (UNII) initiative.
The band has been identified as suitable for future WiMAX-based deployments. Trials are proceeding in Ireland, in this and the 3.5 GHz bands.
Current Policy
Current policy is to maintain the allocation to the Mobile Service, and maintain band access for WLAN use via a GURL under the Radio Licensing Regime.
5.9 GHz
The 5.875 -5.925 GHz band is allocated for the Fixed and Mobile Services and identified internationally as a Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR)22 band.
Allocation Opportunities
Although this band may be suitable for BWA applications, it is presently regarded as more suitable for PPDR. Close proximity of other bands such as the 5.4 and 5.7 GHz bands already identified for BWA applications, makes it unlikely that this band will be considered for allocation for BWA in the short term. This may need to be re-considered once more information is available in the future.
10.5 GHz
The 10.500-10.680 GHz band is allocated to the Fixed Service in New Zealand and is currently used sparsely for fixed point-to-point linking in New Zealand.
Allocation Opportunities
There has been some recent demand for this band to be made available for high capacity point-to-multi point backhaul linking. The Ministry is reviewing future options for this band.
24 GHz
The band 24.549-25.392 GHz is in very little use with two fixed links in operation with four licences.
Current Policy
This band is under private ownership as Management Rights. Renewal arrangements are to be finalised five years before expiry, as per existing renewal of rights policy.
Allocation Opportunities
Most of the spectrum is unused and there is opportunity for greater use. As the Management Rights do not come up for renewal until 2022, current band managers have the opportunity to use this band for the delivery of broadband in the future, either via entering into commercial arrangements with other interested parties or by themselves.
27 GHz
The band 25.555-28.35 GHz is used for the satellite uplinking, and for the delivery of telephony and data in New Zealand.
Current Policy
This band is under private ownership as Management Rights. Renewal arrangements are to be finalised five years before expiry, as per existing renewal of rights policy.
Allocation Opportunities
Some of the spectrum is unused and there is opportunity for greater use. As the Management Rights do not come up for renewal until 2018, current band manager have the opportunity to use this band for the delivery of broadband in the future, either via entering into commercial arrangements with other interested parties or by themselves.
21 Additionally, the band 5.15-5.25 GHz is designated for Indoor WLANs under a GURL in New Zealand and the band 5.25-5.35 GHz designated for WLANs with predominantly indoor use.
22 Under International Radio Regulation Resolution 646.
