Radio Spectrum Business Update – May 2024
Read the Radio Spectrum Business Update for May 2024.
In this issue:
- Sale of licences in FM sound broadcasting Auction 27
- Call for expressions of interest in FM sound broadcasting licences
- Regional Wireless Broadband in 3.30-3.34 GHz to reopen for first-in, first-served licencing 13 May 2024
- Updates to PIB39 Technical Rules and to PIB59 Policy Rules for Licencing in Crown Management Rights
Sale of licences in FM sound broadcasting Auction 27
After recent expressions of Interest, Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) has announced the results of the sale of two FM sound broadcasting spectrum licences that took place in Auction 27.
The licences were auctioned publicly on the Trade Me website and managed by Skylarc(external link) on behalf of Radio Spectrum Management, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
The result of Auction 27 is as follows:
| Transmit Location | Frequency (MHz) |
Reserve Price (Incl. GST) | Sale Price (Incl. GST) |
Winning Bidder | Licence No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Peaks (Central Hawkes Bay District) |
96.4 | $3,920 | $3,920 | No bids - sold to applicant Brian FM Limited | 402243(external link) |
| Otahoua (Masterton District) |
103.9 | $16,379 | $16,379 | NZME Radio Limited | 402516(external link) |
The licences are valid until 2 April 2031 subject to implementation requirements being met by the successful applicant and bidder.
Call for expressions of interest in FM sound broadcasting licences
Applications have been received for the following FM sound broadcasting spectrum licences:
- Kurow Exchange (Waitaki District) 92.0 MHz, licence ID 416185, reserve price: $1,150 incl. GST
- Kurow Exchange (Waitaki District) 93.6 MHz, licence ID 416186, reserve price: $1,150 incl. GST
Radio Spectrum Management is seeking expressions of interest in these commercial FM licences, closing 5pm on 30 May 2024. Interested parties should email the Crown Spectrum Asset Manager via crownspectrum@mbie.govt.nz
Following this, decisions will be made to determine if the licence can be allocated by direct sale or by a competitive allocation process.
Read more about the expressions of interest process
Regional Wireless Broadband in 3.30-3.34 GHz to reopen for first-in, first-served licencing 13 May 2024
Licencing for regional broadband in 3.30-3.34 GHz under the “exclusive rights” period has ended and all licences have now been considered. RSM will reopen the band for first-in, first-served licencing on 13 May 2024 at midday. This will allow new licences to be submitted in any currently unused spectrum in Management Right 514.
Please remember that new prospective licensees will need to confirm their eligibility to licence before submitting licences in this band. Details on this eligibility process and more information on the reopening of the band are available here:
Updates to PIB39 Technical Rules and to PIB59 Policy Rules for Licencing in Crown Management Rights
PIB39 and PIB59 have been edited to take account of the updated rules for the reopening of 3.30-3.34GHz regional wireless broadband licencing from 13 May. The update of PIB39 also includes the closure of the TV white space interim licencing regime to new applications in the Management rights used for digital television.
The updated PIBs can be found here:
Spectrum Licence Certification Rules for Crown Management Rights (PIB 39)