Fixed 003 - Charging of Licence Fees for Multi-Carrier Systems

Charging of Licence Fees for Multi-Carrier Systems

1. Policy

In bands where

• the spectrum is not channelled to a specific plan, or
• usage is not aligned to the approved plan for the band,
• the licensee provides a point-to-multipoint unidirectional service, and
• the band is under the apparatus licensing regime,

licence fees will be charged on a per carrier basis.
 

2. Specific Criteria

In the spectrum 11.7-13.25 GHz, the area 11.7-12.2 is allocated to FIXED, MOBILE except Aeronautical mobile, BROADCASTING, and BROADCASTING SATELLITE, with the requirement that other co-primary services shall not cause harmful interference to BSS operating in accordance with IRR App.30/S30. The area 12.2-12.5 is allocated to FIXED, MOBILE except Aeronautical mobile, BROADCASTING and FIXED SATELLITE (S-E). The area 12.5-12.75 is allocated to FIXED, FIXED SATELLITE (S-E), MOBILE except Aeronautical mobile, and BROADCASTING SATELLITE. The area 12.75-13.25 is allocated to FIXED, FIXED SATELLITE (E-S), and MOBILE.

The spectrum 11.7-12.2 GHz is used for point-to-multipoint fixed services, with the proviso that such operation must not cause harmful interference to BSS operating in accordance with IRR App.30/S30. The spectrum 12.2-12.5 GHz is used variously for fixed point-to-point, fixed point-to-multipoint, fixed satellite (S-E) and itinerant outside broadcasting point-to-point services. The spectrum 12.5-12.75 GHz is used for broadcasting satellite (S-E) services, and because of the requirement to be able to locate receivers anywhere in the country, other services have been excluded from this spectrum.
 

3. Background

There are a number of frequency bands where various channel bandwidths are used, to suit the convenience of the licensees. Because of the current fees structure in the regulations, this has led to inequities in charging, with some being charged for each 36 MHz channel, while others are configuration, it is appropriate that each carrier be separately charged.
 

4. Background

The manner in which different licensees utilise the spectrum depends on their specific requirements, the method of modulation, and whether analogue or digital technologies are used. In the 12 GHz spectrum, there are several main systems in use, or proposed. The earliest implementation was an analogue system, where individual channels carrying AM-VSB TV signals, are translated to 12 GHz, broadcast to head end receivers that re-translate to VHF-UHF baseband, for distribution by cable to homes. While there are multiple programme channels delivered by the system, each channel modulates a separate 12 GHz transmitter with an AM-VSB signal. The use of AM-VSB requires a guard channel between the lower edge of the AM-VSB channel and any adjacent use with a different modulation scheme. Later implementations are digital systems intended for direct home or office reception, and use an MPEG-encoded data stream on a single carrier, or a multi-carrier system with each carrier providing one or more suitably encoded video or television signals.



Approved By:

Manager Spectrum Policy.