ACMA Supporting 5G Technology Innovations

The ACMA has updated class licensing arrangements to support new technology applications and bring Australia into line with international arrangements supporting standardized and efficient equipment supply arrangements.

The updates will support new innovative technologies, wireless data communications systems (including those supporting 5G), radar systems used in road and rail safety applications and internationally harmonized use of short-range devices.

In detail the updates consist of:

• expansion of frequency range for 60 GHz (57–66 GHz) data communication systems to cover 57– 71 GHz for both indoor and outdoor usage supporting wireless gigabit systems (for example, utilizing IEEE 802.11ad) with applications such as backhaul for 5G and Wi-Fi

• new arrangements for ‘all transmitters’ in the 57–64 GHz band supporting an interactive motion sensing technology

• revising arrangements for underground transmitters in certain bands supporting fixed and mobile services from 70–520 MHz to provide improved support for underground activities such as mining

• revision of arrangements for radars in the 76–77 GHz frequency band to provide support for radar use in rail crossing and road safety applications

• new arrangements for ground and wall penetration radar (30–12,400 MHz) facilitating usage of applications across a variety of industry sectors such as agriculture (crop harvesting), railways (track surveying) and underground cable and pipe detection in the telecommunication industry

• aligning existing arrangements for ultra-wideband devices with US and European arrangements for generic (indoor and hand-held) devices (3,100–3,400 MHz and 8,500–9,000 MHz) and aircraft applications (6,000–8,500 MHz) supporting use of such devices in Australia 

The updates are contained in Radio-communications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence Variation 2019 (No. 1).