4.1.4 Impacts

Under this proposal, there would be an additional 8 MHz of spectrum available for STLs in the 841-849 MHz range, with a longer term reduction of the utility of the 915-921 MHz range for STLs. The new band would be managed under the management rights regime, which would promote economically efficient use of the spectrum but might result in less technical efficiency than if the band were controlled by the regulator. A further 8 MHz already licensed to STLs in sub-bands in the 806-960 MHz band would remain under the radio licensing regime.

Licensees currently using the 915-921 MHz band would face costs transitioning out of that spectrum by the end of the five-year transition period (unless they were prepared to remain in the band without interference protection). This will include the cost of retuning equipment or deploying new equipment if the equipment is unable to be retuned. In addition, if a radio licence in one of the alternative bands (849-851 MHz and 929-935 MHz) is not available, these costs might include the purchase of management rights and/or spectrum licences at competitive prices (or possibly the cost of using an alternative technology if this were comparatively better value).

The phasing of the transitional arrangements would mean that new or replacement equipment could be licensed over time, but this also imposes a five-year delay to the time when full use of the present 915-921 MHz band is available for SRDs.

Companies wishing to deploy SRDs, particularly those using spread spectrum technologies that require greater bandwidth, might wish to take advantage of opportunities in specific locations where there is no risk of causing interference to STLs during Phase 1 of the transition, using a radio licence. If the anticipated benefit of the project was significant, it might be in a company’s interest to negotiate with specific STL licensees to facilitate their early transition out of the 915-921 MHz band in the area concerned.

This base proposal does not address the lack of harmonisation of the 864-868 MHz SRD band with that of Europe.

Question 20

What are your views in general on the Ministry’s base proposal for replanning the 806-960 MHz band and the impacts? Are there other replanning options that you believe the Ministry should consider, and why do you prefer them?