8.3 Nature of existing use

141. The Ministry has surveyed existing users¹ and their use can be categorised as either portable, mobile, or helicopter based. Portable use is from a fixed point, typically a sporting venue or other public event, to a remote location such as a hilltop or high building, to link the video signal into an existing telecommunication network. Mobile use is generally from a battery powered video camera to a nearby point (perhaps 100-200 metres) where the signal is further processed, recorded or transmitted. A requirement can be for several cameras to be operated simultaneously. Helicopter use transmits video images of an event from a helicopter mounted camera either back down to the event or to a hilltop or other suitable high point.

142. Each of the three types of use has been considered separately because of the distinct characteristics of use.

Portable use

143. This type of use is field deployable, typically over several kilometres, or tens of kilometres, and necessarily has modest antenna sizes. The majority of present equipment is analogue and, whilst re-tuneable within the O band, is not generally designed to operate outside this band. There are a number of frequency bands suitable for this usage, and the OX band and V band are already available under similar licence arrangements to the O band. Equipment is available (OX band: Gigawave and MRC, V band: several suppliers) and more suppliers are expected to be available over time as countries trend to using O band for uses other than video linking. In addition, parties could operate as seen fit in privately-owned management rights they own or have negotiated access to.

144. Transition for this type of use is seen as relatively straightforward, with present licensees having to purchase new equipment to meet their needs. Much of the present equipment uses analogue technology, and has been in use for 10 years or longer. As such the equipment is likely to require replacement as it proves inadequate for future (digital) requirements or it reaches the end of its practical life.

145. The timing of a transition for this type of use could therefore be related to equipment procurement timescales. Apart from the actual transmitters and receivers, there is a significant quantity of other equipment such as steerable antenna which is designed to operate in the 2.5 GHz band. It is expected that much of this fixed plant would operate directly in, or could be relatively easily modified to use, the 2.7 GHz band. The Ministry understands that some equipment already operates in either band as required from day to day. 

146. A time of 12 months from the expected date of the auction of the 2.5 GHz band would appear suitable to modify any fixed plant and procure new transmitters and receivers. A date of 31 December 2008 is therefore proposed for the cancellation of the present licence for portable links.

147. Present users will need to consider their future requirements in deciding whether to use 2.7 GHz band or the 7 GHz band, or both, for new purchases. While 2.7 GHz band may offer better performance, the increasing bandwidth required for high definition quality may mean that use of several radio cameras and up-linking from a single site may outstrip the capacity of this band. A mix of 2.7 GHz and 7 GHz band would give greater flexibility for larger users.

148. There is at least one licensee who has existing equipment that is relatively new, and would be effectively a stranded investment without a continuing licence in the 2.5 GHz band (for example, Allied Press have purchased equipment one year ago). These few instances tend to operate in, or could be confined to limited geographic areas (Allied operates only in Dunedin for a dozen or so days each year). As only one transmitter is involved for each user, it is proposed on a case by case basis to provide for conditional use in the proposed MSP in specific geographic areas to allow equipment use for five years from purchase.

149. There may be an option for these users to operate the equipment for a longer period in the adjacent 2.4 GHz (ISM) band. The typical use is likely to be a receive antenna at a high point to allow for linking from a number of venues, and the link would therefore be unlikely to suffer interference from other ISM band use. However, depending on the directivity and siting of each “up-link” use there may be degradation to the 2.4 GHz users in at the venue end of the link. Such degradation can be expected under the present licence at any time. If this option is sought there may be a need to review the antenna directivity and eirp requirements in the 2.4 GHz ISM band.

Mobile use

150. This type of use appears to be confined to products which fit on, and plug directly into, a handheld television camera, or which transmit an “action” picture from a race car or air-show to a nearby fixed point. Main users are the NZ Racing Board (NZRB), TVNZ, and ICAM technologies.

151. Television camera manufacturers have different equipment offerings, for example Sony offer only the 2.4 GHz (ISM) band, while Grass Valley offer 2.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz. A third party supplier (Gigawave) offer plug-in products that are electrically and mechanically compatible with camera standards in bands between 1.3 and 4.5 GHz. Grass Valley is understood to be able to develop equipment to operate in the 2.7 GHz band, but some time (and potentially additional equipment cost) could be expected before this work could occur.

152. The largest user, NZRB, is presently re-equipping its outside broadcast equipment and therefore has the opportunity to purchase camera equipment in bands other than the O band, although there may be some added cost for such equipment.

153. TVNZ operate four digital radio linked cameras which are likely to be reasonably recently purchased and TVNZ would need replace the radio linking portion to operate in other frequency bands. There may be an option for this camera use to continue if they are operated solely within studio complexes and do not constrain external usage. The bandwidth required for multiple cameras would likely exceed that available in an MSP, but using both MSPs in the 2.5 GHz band may prove practical. Alternatively a low power licence in the nationwide management rights to be auctioned could be created.

154. TVNZ also operate a business unit (Moving Pictures) that operates throughout New Zealand. This service uses at least one (digital) camera link, but possibly up to six cameras, at various “event” venues throughout New Zealand. This equipment is relatively modern and, whilst low power (around 18 dBm), might still be such as to be incompatible with a fully developed broadband service operating within auctioned management rights. It is likely to be some years before broadband services do become fully developed which would allow time for the existing camera equipment modules to have a few more years of use before replacement. 

155. It is therefore proposed to create a licence, within the auctioned management rights, to allow existing camera mounted equipment to transmit at low power levels until December 2010. This will allow both recently purchased digital equipment and older equipment to be operated for at least five years from purchase date.

156. Given that the nature of camera use is both intensive, and potentially at various geographic locations, it is considered impractical for the management right owner to coordinate fixed installations against camera use. The proposed licence for camera use would, therefore, not offer protection against unwanted interference from services within the management rights.

157. ICAM operate a business transmitting video from race cars (and the like) and service both New Zealand and overseas (Australian etc) markets. The equipment is not directly mounted on the camera and appears to use solely analogue transmission. The operation can use all the six analogue channels available in the 2.5 GHz band simultaneously. Both vehicle mounted and helicopter mounted systems are utilised. Within New Zealand there are several venues used at present, and there may be new business opportunities to deploy the existing equipment at different sporting events. While the equipment is analogue it has been acquired within the last five years and could be expected to have several more years of effective life. 

158. Whilst, along with other 2.5 GHz band users, the ICAM usage can continue until at least December 2008 the race car use is seen as being too intensive (in frequency terms), too widespread geographically, and too close to urban areas to be able to continue under the licence proposed for camera mounted equipment.

159. A transition to both digital equipment to provide a more efficient use of spectrum, and to an alternative frequency band, is considered necessary. Suitable miniature equipment appears to be available, but would need to be acquired and fitted. The company concerned may need to also consider their overseas business needs.

160. Some use of the existing equipment could be possible, but constrained in frequency so as to operate in the proposed MSP on the basis that the low power and limited locations used may not be in conflict with MSP broadband use in the next few years. This would allow a transition over time, say five years, to allow equipment amortisation. However the need for multiple frequency use by ICAM, including multiple helicopter transmissions, would likely require the use of additional capacity/frequencies through options such as:

• use of the 2.4 GHz (ISM) band under the existing general licence, or,
• operating some digital equipment wholly within the MSP(s) from 2008 until December 2010;
• operation using a longer term transitional arrangement on 2.5 GHz without protection from new broadband usage in Management Rights, and potentially also on a non-interference basis; or
• undertaking an early frequency change for some use (i.e. by December 2008) to 2.7 GHz. 

161. The arrangement proposed is for existing use to continue until December 2008. Thereafter use would be constrained in frequency (using either analogue or digital transmissions) to the MSP(s) until December 2010, with a requirement to vacate the 2.5 GHz band and operate fully digital services in the 2.7 GHz band at that time. 

Helicopter use

1. There is one licensee who specialises in helicopter mounted use, typically at sporting events or for news coverage. Several parties indicate that they use helicopter based transmissions, but it not clear what the balance is between permanently fitted equipment and equipment that might simply be loaded into a helicopter as the need arises. Locations are likely to vary throughout New Zealand, and usage requirements are not always predictable.
2. Helicopter based transmitters are likely to create on-ground signals over a reasonably wide area, and whilst the reception of these signals by upwards facing receivers is not likely to be affected by other ground based transmitters, the reverse is not true. Helicopter use therefore requires a degree of exclusivity in order to adequately protect all other services on that frequency in the area from adverse effects. The costs of re-configuring helicopter use may involve airworthiness requirements and this may require a longer transition timeframe than for terrestrial based services.
3. A helicopter based use could operate in the 2.4 GHz (ISM) band, probably with the existing equipment being simply re-tuned, but this would likely affect a number of users in the area (e.g. Wi-Fi networks). The extent of use of the General Licence in any area is generally unknown which means that no effective pre-coordination can be undertaken. In some locations helicopter use would not be disruptive, but in other locations it could clearly cause degradation to ISM type use over a reasonably wide area.
4. A specific transition plan for helicopter type use is therefore considered necessary, but with a longer time period to recognise the additional issues associated with helicopter use. As an initial transition, helicopter use could be confined to the MSP(s) without significant added cost. If multiple channels are required simultaneously, the use of digital technology would be required. Over time the MSP use will increase, and helicopter use would need to transition to the OX band.
5. A timeframe of December 2008 is proposed for helicopter based transmitters to transition to the proposed MSP spectrum. A full transition to the 2.7 GHz band may mean equipment replacement, and recognising that some equipment is relatively modern (two years old) a period until 2012 to vacate the MSP is proposed