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1. Introduction
1. Introduction
New Zealand is a Member Administration of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). It is a signatory to the final acts of radio conferences held by the ITU and subsequently a signatory to the International Radio Regulations. The International Radio Regulations have the status of a United Nations treaty and are the set of international legal documents within which international spectrum management is performed.
The MED uses a number of methods for licensing transmissions. They are Management Rights, Spectrum Licenses, Radio Licenses, General User Licenses and licence exemptions. An overview of the administrative Radio Licensing regime can be found in Spectrum Policy & Planning. Further information pertaining to Management Rights and Spectrum Licenses (including the auctioning process) is contained in Public Information Brochure (PIB), 28: Radio Spectrum Auctions, and from Spectrum Auctions.
Radio frequency energy can be generated intentionally or unintentionally by electrical devices. Unintentional radiators and intentional radiators that utilise RF energy for purposes other than communications are not licensed within the strategic framework mentioned above. However, such devices may cause interference to the reception of intentional radiation, and thus an additional framework is necessary to minimise the possibility of interference, or to ensure the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) of, all electronic (including radiocommunication) products. Details of New Zealand's EMC framework can be found in Product compliance.
A recognised technique for managing the radio spectrum to minimise interference, is by frequency division; that is by dividing the radio spectrum into arbitrary blocks by frequency. This improves the efficiency by placing technically compatible transmissions in adjoining spectrum. These blocks are then allocated to a particular radio service e.g. Broadcasting, Fixed or Mobile services. A tabular form of this division is the essence of a table of frequency allocations.
The table in section 2 indicates significant, but not necessarily exclusive, existing usage within New Zealand of ranges of frequencies (i.e. "bands") by various radio services. It is based on the International Radio Regulations Article 5, section IV, "Table of Frequency Allocations" - particularly where international co-ordination is important such as in the aeronautical, maritime, satellite, navigation, space research, astronomy and amateur services. It should be noted, however, that where spectrum in New Zealand is the subject of privately owned Management Rights, the rightholder determines the highest value use of the spectrum.
This document is intended for use by persons of all levels of expertise from persons with a general interest in radio usage and allocation through to the professional radio engineer. It is expected to be used as a resource document for developing policies, recommendations and decisions pertaining to radio usage in New Zealand. A less detailed overview of the New Zealand table of radio allocations is given in Chart of Radio Spectrum Allocations.
1.1 Consistency of Information and Disclaimer
The information provided in this Ministry of Economic Development publication is intended to provide general information to the public and every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate. However, readers are advised that:
The information provided does not replace or alter the laws of New Zealand and other official guidelines or requirements.
Readers should take specific advice from qualified professional people before undertaking any action based on information published in this document
The Crown does not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise for any action taken as a result of reading, or reliance placed on the Ministry because of having read, any part, or all, of the information in this publication or for any error, inadequacy, deficiency, flaw in or omission from the information provided herein.
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The Ministry also does not implicitly or impliedly endorse any website, organisation or people who have off-site links to the Ministry's website.
All readers who ignore this disclaimer do so at their own risk.
