Summary of changes

Changes for short-range devices and Amateur service

The General User Radio Licence for short-range devices has been amended to allow for the following uses:

• 868-870 MHz – SRDs with a peak power of 2 mW e.i.r.p. and a maximum duty cycle of 1% [to operate on a non-interference basis with existing use by land mobile radio in the 868-869 MHz range]
• 921.5-928 MHz – SRDs with a 1 W maximum transmitter power, employing FHSS or digital modulation, may operate up to a maximum of 4 W e.i.r.p. with a gain antenna [currently restricted to 1 W e.i.r.p.]
   

The frequencies 928-929 MHz have also been removed from both the SRD and Amateur GURLs.

From 24 December 2015, these additional uses will be permitted:

• 915-921 MHz – allow SRDs with a peak power of 1 W e.i.r.p. and Amateur service with a peak power of 25 W e.i.r.p. [currently used for studio-to-transmitter links]
• 920-921.5 MHz – allow SRDs with a 1 W maximum transmitter power, employing FHSS or digital modulation, to operate up to a maximum of 4 W e.i.r.p. with a gain antenna.

Changes for studio-to-transmitter links

Two new frequency ranges have been indentified for use by STLs, in addition to the 849-851 MHz and 929-935 MHz bands already allocated in this band: 

• 841-849 MHz, and
• 928-929 MHz.

The 915-921 MHz band currently used for studio-to-transmitter links (STLs) will be opened for use by SRDs from 24 December 2015. At that time, existing licensees will not be required to exit the band, but their protection from interference will be removed.

The Ministry will reserve licences in a different band to replace those currently in use for STLs in the 915-921 MHz band, so that licensees who wish to move to a different band can do so.

A draft channel assignment plan of the replacement licences has been prepared. The licences have been planned in the 841-851 MHz band, but replacement licences could be reserved in the 929-935 MHz band if a licensee is able to identify an available channel.

• Replacement STLs preliminary frequencies [64 kB XLS]

The Ministry intends to finalise the channel assignments for replacement licences by the end of February 2011. The replacement licences will then be reserved for licensees in SMART. Licensees will be notified of their final channel assignments.

There will be no requirement for an affected licensee to take up a replacement licence, or to take it up at a particular time. The replacement licences will remain reserved until the end of 2016, to allow licensees to transition if and when they wish.

If a licensee does not wish to remain in the 915-921 MHz band because of potential interference from SRDs and does not wish to migrate to a different frequency band, there are alternative technologies for transporting programmes from a studio to a broadcast transmitter, including leased lines, infra-red links, microwave radio and satellite linking.

The Ministry is also developing coordination guidelines to manage the 840 MHz interface between cellular mobile services and STLs. The guidelines are aimed at enabling Telecom (which owns the 825-840 MHz management right) and individual STL licensees to coordinate the timing of equipment deployment and the fitting of any necessary filters.