Allocation of spectrum at 3.5 GHz for broadband wireless access

Background

In December 2001, the government agreed to create and retain rights to two 3.5 GHz blocks of radio spectrum suitable for fixed (broadband) wireless access use. Licences were to be made available for specific geographic areas, typically for high speed internet connections in rural/provincial areas.

In March 2004, Cabinet agreed to release these blocks for commercial allocation. The Ministry of Economic Development released a discussion document outlining draft allocation proposals for public feedback and comment. A summary of submissions on the draft allocation proposals was released in July 2004.

In September 2004, an allocation plan was announced. The plan provided for the commercial assignment of area spectrum licences defined by the boundaries of territorial local authorities. The government has created two lots of licences in the 3.5 GHz spectrum band for each of the 74 territorial local authority areas, i.e. a total of 148 lots. Each lot comprises a pair of 7.5 MHz licences.

A first round assignment of 71 lots was completed in 2006. Fourteen applicants were assigned a total of 64 lots, and a further seven lots were allocated to Compass Communications Limited under Project PROBE priority.

Changes to the Allocation Rules were made for the Second Assignment Round. These changes were made following public comments on the draft allocation rules in September 2007. Submissions on the Draft Allocation Rules were published in October 2007.

On 12 November 2007, the government called for applications (by 5 December 2007) for the 77 radio spectrum licence lots available for the second assignment round.

Allocation of spectrum for 32 uncontested lots has been confirmed. These applicants have been invited to proceed to settlement.

Competing applicants for eight lots have been invited to tender for those lots by 4.00pm 14 March 2008. Only one valid package bid out of each tender may be successful. This is a closed tender.

Lots for which no application has been received, 37 in total, may be allocated at a later date.

Further information

Documents

Second assignment round information

Media statements

Consultation documents

Archived documents

Second assignment round information

3.5 GHz allocation rules (2007) [128 kB PDF] – The relevant timing, technical information (including licence areas available) and process for assigning area spectrum licences in the 3.5 GHz band.

3.5 GHz application form (2007) [47 kB PDF] – Includes reserve prices and location of each lot.

3.5 GHz flowchart [25 kB PDF] – Sets out the process for the Second Assignment Round.

Statutory declaration – Sample statutory declaration text

Map of New Zealand – Territorial local authorities’ boundaries and information

Questions and answers regarding the second assignment round of 3.5 GHz spectrum licences.

 
Media statements

7 November 2007 - Broadband services in rural and provincial areas – Hon David Cunliffe, Minister of Communications and Information Technology

12 September 2007 - More high-speed internet licences for rural areas – Hon David Cunliffe, Minister of Communications  
 

Consultation documents

Draft allocation rules - A discussion paper setting out draft allocation rules for the Second Assignment Round (September 2007)

Submissions – View the submissions received on the draft allocation rules for the Second Assignment Round (October 2007)
 

Archived documents

Access archive documents relating to allocation of spectrum at 3.5 GHz for broadband wireless access.