RALI : MS 36
DATE OF EFFECT : TBA
Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instruction
AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY
SPECTRUM PLANNING AND ENGINEERING BRANCH
700 MHz band Early Access –
Radiocommunications Assignment and
Licensing Instruction for Public
Telecommunications Services
MS 36 Month Year
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS ASSIGNMENT AND LICENSING
INSTRUCTIONS
DISCLAIMER
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) advises that these instructions reflect
the current policies of the ACMA.
Prospective applicants for licences should take all necessary steps to ensure that they have access to
appropriate technical and other specialist advice independently of ACMA concerning their
applications, the operation of radiocommunications equipment and services, and any other matters
relevant to the operation of transmitters and services under the licences in question.
The policies of ACMA and the laws of the Commonwealth may change from time to time, and
prospective licensees should ensure that they have informed themselves of the current policies of
ACMA and of any relevant legislation (including subordinate instruments). Prospective applicants for
licences should not rely on statements made in these instructions about the policies that may be
followed by other government authorities or entities, nor about the effect of legislation. These
instructions are not a substitute for independent advice (legal or otherwise) tailored to the
circumstances of individual applicants.
Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instructions are subject to periodic review and are
amended as ACMA considers necessary. To keep abreast of developments, it is important that users
ensure that they are in possession of the latest edition.
No liability is or will be accepted by the Minister or the Department of Communications, ACMA, the
Commonwealth of Australia, or its officers, servants or agents for any loss suffered, whether arising
directly or indirectly, due to reliance on the accuracy or contents of these instructions.
Suggestions for improvements to Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instructions may be
addressed to The Manager, Spectrum Planning Section, ACMA at PO Box 78, Belconnen, ACT, 2616, or
by e-mail to [email protected]. It would be appreciated if notification to ACMA of any inaccuracy or
ambiguity found be made without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate
action taken.
ii
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Table of contents
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Purpose 1
1.2 Scope 1
1.3 Time frame 1
2 PTS operational requirements 2
2.1 Fixed devices 3
2.2 Mobile devices 3
2.3 Emission masks 3
2.3.1 Non-spurious emission 3
2.3.2 Spurious emission limits 6
2.3.3 Block E coverage 6
2.4 Protection criteria 7
3 Coordination Procedures 9
3.1 Exclusion zones 9
3.1.1 Digital transmission 9
3.1.2 Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone 9
3.2 Interference mitigation 10
3.2.1 Wireless audio devices – mitigation plans 10
4 Licensing 11
4.1 Overview of PTS licensing 11
4.2 Licence conditions 12
4.3 Assignment priority 12
4.4 Advisory notes 12
4.5 Special conditions 12
4.6 Spectrum access records 13
5 RALI Authorisation 13
6 Glossary 14
7 References 15
8 Annex A – Notional receiver 16
1
MS 36 Month Year
700 MHz band Early Access –
Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instruction for
Public Telecommunications Services
1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose
Section 2.3.4 of the Auction guide1 for the digital dividend auction states that winning bidders in the
auction can apply to the ACMA to be issued an apparatus licence for a period before the spectrum
licences in the 700 MHz band commences on 1 January 2015.
The purpose of this Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instruction (RALI) is to provide the
frequency coordination and apparatus licensing procedures of Public Telecommunications Services
(PTS) in the paired band 703-733 MHz and 758-788 MHz – referred to as the 700 MHz band2.
The information in this document reflects the ACMA's statement of current policy in relation to frequency
coordination and apparatus licensing of a Public Mobile Telecommunications Service (PMTS) Class B
service, in the 700 MHz band. In making decisions, accredited persons and the ACMA’s officers should
take all relevant factors into account and decide each case on its merits.
Issues relating to this document that appear to fall outside the enunciated policy should be referred to the
Manager, Spectrum Engineering, PO Box 78, Belconnen, ACT, 2616, or by e-mail to
1.2 Scope
This RALI details the necessary steps for frequency coordination and apparatus licensing of proposed
PTS systems in the 700 MHz band. This RALI does not apply to non-commercial deployments.
Operating limits on PTS systems are described in Part 2, coordination requirements with in-band and
adjacent band systems are described in Part 3 and licensing requirements in Part 4.
The technical parameters of this RALI mirror those of the 700 MHz band spectrum licence technical
framework; therefore, it is expected that devices operating in compliance with this RALI should be eligible
for registration under the 700 MHz spectrum licence from 1 January 2015.
1.3 Time frame
This RALI supports PTS apparatus licensing in the 700 MHz band after the completion of the analogue
switch-off across all regions in Australia in December 2013. Any apparatus licences issued in accordance
with this RALI will cease at 00:00, 1 January 2015. This is due to the bands 703-748 / 758-803 MHz being
subject to Radiocommunications (Spectrum Re-allocation) Declaration No. 1 of 2011, and spectrum
licences in this band commence on 1 January 2015. This RALI will no longer be required and will cease
to be in effect after 1 January 2015.
1 Details on the applicant information pack (AIP) – including the auction guide – for the 700 MHz digital dividend auction are
available here: http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Spectrum/Digital-Dividend-700MHz-and-25Gz-Auction/Reallocation/applicant-
information-package 2 The scope of this RALI is only applicable to the 703-733MHz and 758-788 MHz bands. For convenience, these bands are referred
to as the 700 MHz band in this RALI only.
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2 PTS operational requirements
The operational requirements for PTS systems under this RALI were developed in the Technical Liaison
Group3 (TLG) that forms the technical framework
4 for the 700 MHz band. Equipment complying with the
requirements of the APT 700 MHz plan is suitable for deployment under this RALI.
There are three main components that define PTS operations:
Limiting the maximum level of in-band radio emission from radiocommunications transmitters
operating under this PTS licence.
Management of interference from radiocommunications transmitters operating under the PTS
licence into apparatus and class licensed radiocommunications receivers operating in or adjacent
to the 700 MHz band.
Management of in-band and out-of-band interference from transmitters operated under class or
apparatus licences into fixed radiocommunications receivers operating under this PTS licence.
During the development of the technical framework, the TLG used the UTRA5 and E-UTRA
6 radio
transmission and reception standards to develop the framework. As such, the operational requirements
for the PTS licence are based on these two technologies; however, this does not preclude the use of
other technologies.
Unless the contrary intention appears, the value of a parameter must be estimated with a level of
confidence not less than 95% that the true value of the parameters will always remain below the
requirement specified.
The frequency limits that apply to the PTS licence consist of frequencies between the lower and upper
limits described in Table 1, where the lower limit is exclusive and upper limit inclusive.
Table 1: Frequency Bands
Lower band (MHz) Upper band (MHz)
Lower limit Upper limit Lower limit Upper limit
703 733 758 788
For the purposes of this RALI, in-band means:
for a radiocommunications transmitter or radiocommunications receiver operating under an
apparatus licence, the frequencies within the lower frequency limit and the upper frequency limit
specified in the licence.
3 Technical Liaison Groups (TLGs) are convened to develop, review and update spectrum licence technical frameworks
4 Further details on the technical framework for the 700 MHz band are available at:
http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Spectrum/Spectrum-planning/About-spectrum-planning/technical-framework-700-mhz
5 Universal Terrestrial Radio Access – 3GPP 25.XXX series of technical standards
6 Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access – 3GPP 36.XXX series of technical standards
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The out-of-band emission limits that apply to fixed radiocommunications devices are described in
section 2.3. For the purposes of this RALI, out-of-band means:
for a radiocommunications transmitter or radiocommunications receiver operating under an
apparatus licence, the frequencies outside the lower frequency limit and the upper frequency limit
specified in the licence.
2.1 Fixed devices
A fixed radiocommunications device means a radiocommunications device located at a fixed point on
land or sea and not designed for use while in motion. Fixed radiocommunications devices may include
base stations or fixed user equipment.
To minimise the likelihood for co-channel interference and adjacent channel blocking, the maximum
permitted level of in-band radio emission, caused by the operation of fixed radiocommunications devices,
must not exceed a horizontally radiated power7 of 47 dBm per 30 kHz.
2.2 Mobile devices
A mobile radiocommunications device means a radiocommunications device that is designed for use
while in motion and therefore has no fixed point for which it can be referenced.
Mobile devices that operate within the band 703-733 MHz with a radiated maximum true mean power of
less than or equal to 23 dBm EIRP per occupied bandwidth are authorised under conditions specified in
the Radiocommunications (Cellular Mobile Telecommunications Devices) Class Licence 2002 [7];
however, out-of-band emission limits still apply (refer to section 2.3).
2.3 Emission masks
Out-of-band emission criteria are either non-spurious (section 2.3.1) or spurious (section 2.3.2)
emissions.
For the purposes of section 2.3.2, spurious emission means emissions that are not:
(a) modulation products; or
(b) wide band noise; or
(c) emissions caused by switching transients.
2.3.1 Non-spurious emission
1. The non-spurious emission limits in Table 2 apply:
(a) to a radiocommunications transmitter operating in the band 703 MHz to 748 MHz; and
(b) at frequencies outside of the PTS licence frequency band; and
(c) at frequencies above 694 MHz; and
(d) offset from the upper and lower limits of the PTS licence frequency band.
where:
foffset:is the frequency offset from the upper or lower frequency limits set out in Table 1.
7 Horizontally radiated power is defined in Part 1 of the Marketing Plan [1]
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Table 2: Non-spurious emission limits at frequencies outside the band
Frequency offset
(foffset)
Radiated maximum true
mean power (dBm EIRP)
Bandwidth
0 Hz ≤ foffset < 1 MHz -15 30 kHz
1 MHz ≤ foffset < 5 MHz -10 1 MHz
5 MHz≤ foffset < 20 MHz -13 1 MHz
foffset ≥ 20 MHz -25 1 MHz
2. The non-spurious emission limits in Table 3 apply:
(a) to a radiocommunications transmitter operating in the band 758 MHz to 803 MHz;
(b) at frequencies outside the PTS licence frequency band;
(c) within the band 748 MHz to 806 MHz; and
(d) offset from the upper and lower limits of the PTS licence frequency band.
where:
foffset: is the frequency offset from the upper or lower frequency limits set out in Table 1.
Table 3: Non-spurious emission limits at frequencies outside the band
Frequency offset
(foffset)
Radiated maximum true
mean power (dBm EIRP)
Bandwidth
0 Hz ≤ foffset < 5 MHz 15 1 MHz
5 MHz ≤ foffset < 10 MHz 11 1 MHz
foffset ≥ 10 MHz 9 1 MHz
3. The non-spurious emission limits in Table 4 apply to a radiocommunications transmitter operating
in the band 758 MHz to 803 MHz;
where:
f: is the range of frequencies at which the limit applies.
Table 4: Non-spurious emission limits at frequencies outside the band
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Frequency range, f Radiated maximum true
mean power (dBm EIRP)
Bandwidth
f < 748 MHz -15 1 MHz
806 MHz ≤ f < 813 MHz -6 1 MHz
813 MHz ≤ f -15 1 MHz
4. The non-spurious emission limits in Table 5 apply:
(a) to a radiocommunications transmitter operating in the band 703 MHz to 748 MHz;
(b) within an area referred to in section 2.3.3.
where:
f: is the range of frequencies at which the limit applies.
Table 5: Non-spurious emission limits at frequencies outside the band
Frequency
range, f
Radiated maximum true mean power
(averaged over a 7 MHz television channel bandwidth)
(dBm EIRP)
Bandwidth
f < 694 MHz -40 1 MHz
5. The non-spurious emission limits in Table 6 apply:
(a) to a radiocommunications transmitter operating in the band 703 MHz to 748 MHz;
(b) outside of the affected areas mentioned in section 2.3.3.
where:
f: is the range of frequencies at which the limit applies.
Table 6: Non-spurious emission limits at frequencies outside the band
Frequency range, f Radiated maximum true mean power
(averaged over a 7 MHz television channel bandwidth)
(dBm EIRP)
Bandwidth
f < 673 MHz -40 1 MHz
673 MHz ≤ f < 694 MHz -34 1 MHz
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2.3.2 Spurious emission limits
The spurious emission limits in Table 7 apply to radiocommunications transmitters operated under the
PTS licence at frequencies outside the 703-748 MHz and 758-803 MHz frequency bands.
Table 7: Radiocommunications transmitter spurious emission limits
Frequency
(f)
Radiated mean power (dBm EIRP) Bandwidth
9 kHz ≤ f <150 kHz -36 1 kHz
150 kHz ≤ f <30 MHz -36 10 kHz
30 MHz≤ f <1GHz -36 100 kHz
1 GHz≤ f <12.75 GHz -30 1 MHz
The spurious emission limits in Table 8 apply to radiocommunications receivers operated under the PTS
licence at frequencies outside the 703-748 MHz and 758-803 MHz frequency bands.
Table 8: Radiocommunications receiver spurious emission limits
Frequency
(f)
Radiated mean power (dBm EIRP)
Bandwidth
30 MHz ≤ f <1 GHz -57 100 kHz
1GHz≤ f <12.75 GHz -47 1 MHz
It should be noted that under this PTS licence, there will be no provisions for agreements to vary the
emission limits as specified in this RALI.
2.3.3 Block E coverage
A limit of EIRP -40 dBm per MHz applies to out-of-band emissions from radiocommunications transmitters
operating in the 703-733 MHz band in areas where these transmitters co-exist with digital television
receivers in the coverage areas of digital television broadcasting or retransmission services operating on
UHF broadcast channels 49, 50 and 51. Specifically, the out-of-band requirements for
radiocommunications transmitters in the 703-733 MHz lower band are as follows:
(a) EIRP -40 dBm per MHz (averaged over a 7 MHz television channel bandwidth) in the frequency
range 673 to 694 MHz when operating in an area designated for use of UHF broadcast channels
49, 50 and 51;
(b) EIRP -34 dBm per MHz (averaged over a 7 MHz television channel bandwidth) in the frequency
range 673 to 694 MHz when operating in any other area;
(c) EIRP -40 dBm per MHz (averaged over a 7 MHz television channel bandwidth) below the
frequency of 673 MHz in any area;
where the corresponding UHF broadcast channel frequency limits are given in Table 9.
Table 9: UHF broadcast channels
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UHF
Broadcast
Channel
Lower Edge
Frequency
(MHz)
Centre
Frequency
(MHz)
Upper Edge
Frequency
(MHz)
49 673 676.5 680
50 680 683.5 687
51 687 690.5 694
PTS licensees in the 700 MHz band are required to implement these out-of band limits in those areas
identified by a series of maps (based on broadcasting service planning performed by the ACMA)
depicting predicted coverage areas of digital television broadcasting and retransmission services, as
published by the ACMA8. These maps identify those areas in which the EIRP -40 dBm per MHz limit must
be adhered to over the 673 to 694 MHz frequency range and are available on the ACMA website.
2.4 Protection criteria
Digital television services will continue to operate on channels in the 520 to 694 MHz frequency range. A
minimum separation of 9 MHz exists between the lower limit of the 700 MHz band and digital television
transmitters (694 MHz to 703 MHz).
In cases where interference is received by a PTS licensed receiver from digital television services below
694 MHz, appropriate mitigation should be employed by the PTS licensee to manage any interference
received. Information on the location and characteristics of the digital television transmitters is provided in
the Register of Radiocommunications Licences (RRL) and in the planning documents associated with the
television licence area plans, which are available on the ACMA website9.
The recommended notional receiver performance level is set out in Annex A – Notional receiver. A fixed
radiocommunications receiver operating under this PTS licence must meet the notional level of
performance to be afforded protection from other PTS transmitters.
For the purposes of assessing compatibility with other PTS licences, fixed receivers operating under a
PTS licence in the 700 MHz band will be provided protection where the following protection requirements
are met:
(a) a wanted to unwanted ratio of 24 dB corresponding to a bit error rate of 0.001;
and
(b) a minimum wanted signal level of -83 dBm per 5 MHz for an annual availability of
99.99 percent.
Mobile devices (refer to section 2.2) will not be protected because the transient nature of their location
negates the use of this requirement as an interference management procedure. Mobile devices have, by
their nature, the ability to avoid an interference source, unlike a fixed receiver.
8 Final maps issued by the ACMA - http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Spectrum/Spectrum-planning/About-spectrum-
planning/technical-framework-700-mhz
9 Television Licence Area Plans (TLAPs) - http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Licence-area-
plans
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The ACMA will not regard in-band interference to a radiocommunications receiver operating under a
PTS licence in the 700 MHz band, caused by a transmitter operating under a class licence, as
unacceptable if the operation of the class licensed transmitter complies with all relevant conditions of the
class licence.
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3 Coordination Procedures
This section provides the coordination procedures to be followed before a licensee may operate a land
station under a PTS licence. To perform the coordination, access to licence data for existing assignments
is required. This data is available on the RRL that is available for purchase on CD-ROM from the ACMA.
3.1 Exclusion zones
3.1.1 Digital transmission
Digital television broadcasting and retransmission services may continue to operate in the 694 to 820
MHz frequency range until the end of the re-allocation period for the 700 MHz band on 31 December
201410
.
Digital television receivers of those broadcasting or retransmission services may potentially suffer co-
channel or adjacent-channel interference from PTS licensed services until they are ’restacked‘ to
channels below 694 MHz. To mitigate potential interference, fixed transmitters authorised under this PTS
licence will be geographically separated from coverage areas of digital television broadcasting and
retransmission services until restacking for that particular area is complete.
Maps showing the digital transmission exclusion zones are provided on the ACMA website11
. For an area,
as designated by these maps, where a digital television broadcasting or retransmission service operates
on channels 52 to 69, a PTS licensee cannot operate a land station under the PTS licence in any part of
the 700 MHz band. This is for reasons of equitable access.
The ACMA will consider authorising land stations in a digital transmission exclusion zone only where
express written consent from all broadcasters or retransmission service providers protected by the
exclusion zone is obtained by the PTS licensee, and provided to the ACMA. For reasons of equitable
access, the broadcaster or retransmission service provider must express the written consent to any
applicant eligible to be issued a licence under the Radiocommunications (Early Access to 700 MHz Band)
Determination 2014.
The exclusion zone maps will be updated on a case-by-case basis as a result of digital television
restacking to channels below 694 MHz in a particular area. The format of the maps provided will also
allow exclusion areas to be removed as transmission services are restacked allowing PTS licensees to
obtain an up to date and immediate situation with regard to exclusion zones.
3.1.2 Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone
The site located in remote central Western Australia identified for future radio astronomy use has been
protected by the establishment of the Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone across the radio spectrum from 100
MHz through to 25 GHz. The location of the site, and the definition of the Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone,
can be found in the Radiocommunications (Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone) Frequency Band Plan 201112
.
Licensees in areas adjacent to the Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone should coordinate proposed stations
using the methods and limits set out for apparatus licensees in RALI MS 3213
.
10 Radiocommunications (Spectrum Re-allocation) Declaration No. 1 of 2011 - http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2011L02180/
11 http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Spectrum/Spectrum-planning/About-spectrum-planning/technical-framework-700-mhz
12Radiocommunications (Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone) Frequency Band Plan 2011 -
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2011L01520
13 Coordination of Apparatus Licensed Services Within The Mid West Radio Quiet Zone -
http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Spectrum/Spectrum-planning/Frequency-assignment-and-coordination/frequency-assignment-
requirements-spectrum-planning-acma
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3.2 Interference mitigation
3.2.1 Wireless audio devices – mitigation plans
Item 22A of the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 200014
authorises the operation of wireless audio devices (WAD) in the frequency range 520-820 MHz with a
maximum EIRP restriction of 100mW. This service may continue to operate until the end of the re-
allocation period for the 700 MHz band on 31 December 201410
.
WADs may potentially suffer co-channel or adjacent-channel interference from services operating under a
PTS licence.
Applicants are required to submit a WAD interference mitigation plan (mitigation plan) along with the
licence application. The ACMA will consider the suitability of the plan as part of its consideration on
issuing a licence.
The mitigation plan would be expected to:
1. State how locations with high likelihood of WAD use will be identified;
2. State how the licensee will configure fixed stations to minimise interference to locations of identified
risk;
3. Describe how the licensee will avoid the deployment of fixed stations near venues of high potential
WAD usage;
4. Outline the steps the licensee will take to inform WAD users of the deployment of fixed stations so
that WAD users can report to the licensee any interference that occurs;
5. Identify specific steps the licensee will take to mitigate interference to WAD if interference is reported;
and
6. Acknowledge that in the event interference cannot be expeditiously resolved through a mutually
acceptable solution, the transmitter/s authorised by the apparatus licence may need to be switched
off.
PTS licences are subject to Special Condition XX (see section 4.5) requiring the licensee to take
proactive steps to minimise the potential for interference to WAD and to mitigate interference that occurs.
Such mitigation should include carrying out the interference response strategies in the mitigation plan, but
is not limited to these steps.
14 Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000 -
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2011C00543
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4 Licensing
4.1 Overview of PTS licensing
A PTS apparatus licence may be issued to authorise the operation of a PMTS class B service that
consists of one or more land stations. Devices (such as mobiles) used to communicate with the licensed
land stations are authorised by the Radiocommunications (Cellular Mobile Telecommunications Devices)
Class Licence 2002 [7].
A PTS licence is defined in the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000 [8] as:
PTS licence means an apparatus licence issued for a service that consists of 1 or more stations that are operated for the provision of a public mobile telecommunications service.
Under the PTS licence type, the PMTS Class B licensing option is available for services in the 703-733
and 758-788 MHz band.
A PTS licence authorising a PMTS Class B service for the 700 MHz Band will authorise one or more land
stations to be operated within a licence area defined in a special condition on the licence by HCIS15
identifiers, taking into account the exclusion zones described in section 3.1.1 and 3.1.2. As digital
transmission exclusion zones clear as a result of restack, licensees will be permitted to deploy additional
land stations under the licence in accordance with the coordination procedures in this RALI. If a licensee
wishes to deploy land stations outside the area defined by the HCIS identifiers in the licence, then a new
PTS licence will be required. This will attract a new licence issue charge and apparatus licence tax.
PTS licences in the 700 MHz band will only be authorised whilst the re-allocation period in
Radiocommunications (Spectrum Re-allocation) Declaration No. 1 of 2011 is in place (from 2 November
2011 to 31 December 2014). The ACMA will not issue or renew a PTS licence in the 700 MHz band after
31 December 2014. The ACMA will not issue a PTS licence in the 700 MHz band unless it is satisfied in
accordance with paragraph 153P(2)(e) of the Act that special circumstances exist that justify the issuing
of the licence.
As the 700 MHz band will remain within the broadcasting services bands during 2014, PTS licences will
only be issued in accordance with the Radiocommunications (Early Access to 700 MHz Band)
Determination 2014. This determination made under subsection 31(2) of Act will authorise the ACMA to
consider the issuing of PTS licences for a PMTS class B service to persons (winning bidders) who have
been allocated spectrum in the 700 MHz band as a result of an auction held in accordance with the
Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Allocation – Combinatorial Clock Auction) Determination 2012.
The determination authorises the use by these winning bidders of the same spectrum allocated as a
result of the auction.
15 The Hierarchical Cell Identification Scheme (HCIS) apples unique alphanumeric ‘names’ to each of the cells of the Australian
Spectrum Map Grid 2012 (ASMG). Each five-minute of arc square cell in the ASMG is assigned a unique identifier, derived from
the cell’s position in a hierarchically arranged grouping of cells.
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4.2 Licence conditions
The operation of radiocommunications equipment authorised by a PTS licence is subject to:
conditions specified in the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (the Act), including an obligation to comply
with the Act
conditions specified in the
o Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Apparatus Licence) Determination 2003 [5]
o Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (PTS Licence) Determination 1997 [6]
o and any other determinations made by the ACMA under section 107(1)(f) of the Act
conditions specified in the licence under section 107(1)(g) of the Act
any further conditions imposed by the ACMA under section 111 of the Act
4.3 Assignment priority
Assignments will be made in accordance with the Radiocommunications (Early Access to 700 MHz Band)
Determination 2014. This requires the ACMA to authorise licences only to those licensees who won lots
at auction, and only in the lots the applicant won at auction.
4.4 Advisory notes
The following Advisory Note XX will be attached to all PTS licences in the 703-733 / 758-788 MHz band:
The bands 703-748 / 758-803 MHz are subject to Radiocommunications (Spectrum Re-allocation)
Declaration No. 1 of 2011 with the re-allocation period in place from 2 November 2011 to 31
December 2014. The ACMA will not issue PTS licences after 31 December 2014.
4.5 Special conditions
Conditions of operation which apply to an individual licence, will be printed on the licence under the
heading ‘Special Conditions’.
Special Condition WW will be applied to all PTS licences in the 700 MHz band. The intention of this
special condition is to ensure licensees do not operate devices under the licence outside the technical
conditions specified in this RALI.
The operation of radiocommunications devices under this licence must meet all
technical requirements as specified in RALI MS 36.
Special Condition XX will be applied to all PTS licences in the 700 MHz band. The intentions of this
special condition are to encourage licensees to have regard to existing class licensed wireless audio
devices operating in the band and, where necessary, implement appropriate mitigation to resolve co-
channel and adjacent channel interference.
The licensee must not operate radiocommunications devices under this licence unless
the licensee has taken the proactive steps in the wireless audio interference device
mitigation plan (the plan) to minimise the potential for interference to wireless audio
devices operating in the 520-820 MHz range. Licensees are required to mitigate any
co-channel or adjacent channel interference to wireless audio devices. Such mitigation
includes, but is not limited by, a requirement that the licensee carries out the
interference response strategies outlined in the plan.
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Special Condition YY will be applied to all PTS licences in the 700 MHz band. The intention of this
special condition is to ensure that licensees to not operate land stations in a digital transmission exclusion
zone, except as provided for in this RALI.
The licensee must comply with the provisions of section 3.1 of RALI MS 36 that relate
to the operation of land stations in digital transmission exclusion zones.
A manual special condition will be applied to each PTS licence in the 700 MHz band that will define the
area of the licence by HCIS identifiers (this can’t be predefined and the HCIS identifiers will be added
when the licence is created). The intention of this condition is to identify the area in which land stations
may be operated (subject to the exclusion zones in section 3.1). This licence area is also the area that will
be used to calculate the applicable apparatus licence tax in accordance with the Radiocommunications
(Transmitter Licence Tax) Determination 2003 (No.2).
The licensee must only operate land stations under this PTS licence within the licence
area described by the following HCIS identifiers:
4.6 Spectrum access records
Technical details relating to the PTS system, including but not limited to, the operating EIRP, location,
antenna height, type and orientation and transmit/receive frequency band, should be recorded by the
licensee in accordance with the licence condition in the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (PTS
Licence ) Determination 1997.
5 RALI Authorisation
TBD
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6 Glossary
ACMA Australian Communications and Media Authority
ACS Adjacent Channel Selectivity
EIRP Effective Isotropic Radiated Power
E-UTRA Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access
PMTS Public Mobile Telecommunications Service
PTS Public Telecommunications Service
RQZ Radio Quiet Zone
TLAP Television Licence Area Plan
TLG Technical Liaison Group
UHF Ultra High Frequency
UTRA Universal Terrestrial Radio Access
WAD Wireless Access Device
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7 References
1. Radiocommunications Spectrum Marketing Plan (700 MHz Band) 2012 – the Marketing Plan
2. Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference — 700 MHz Band) Determination 2012
3. Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference from Transmitters – 700 MHz
Band) 2012
4. Radiocommunications Advisory Guidelines (Managing Interference to Receivers – 700 MHz Band)
2012
5. Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Apparatus Licence) Determination 2003
6. Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (PTS Licence) Determination 1997
7. Radiocommunications (Cellular Mobile Telecommunications Devices) Class Licence 2002
8. Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000
ANNEX B
MS 36 Month Year
16
8 Annex A – Notional receiver
The notional level of performance for a fixed radiocommunications receiver operating under this PTS
licence issued for the 700 MHz band in relation to interfering signals from a radiocommunications
transmitter operated under a PTS licence in the 700 MHz band is:
(a) an adjacent channel selectivity (ACS) greater than or equal to the following relative figures for
respective channel bandwidths;
Channel Bandwidth Relative ACS
≤ 5 MHz 46 dB
> 5 MHz 42 dB
(b) an intermodulation response rejection greater than or equal to the following
figures for frequency offsets between the edge of the wanted channel and the centre of the
interfering intermodulation product bandwidth;
Frequency Offset from
Wanted Channel Edge to
Centre Frequency of IM
Product Bandwidth (MHz)
Intermodulation
Performance Requirement
(dB)
2.5 MHz 50 dB
7.5 MHz 50 dB
12.5 MHz 54 dB
17.5 MHz 54 dB
22.5 MHz 80 dB
(c) a receiver blocking level greater than or equal to the following figures for interfering signals in
the frequency ranges set out below;
Frequency range of
interfering signals
Relative Blocking
Requirements (dB)
1 MHz to 683 MHz 85 dB
683 MHz to 768 MHz 55 dB
768 MHz to 12750 MHz 85 dB
(d) a spurious response immunity greater than or equal to 65 dB for a receiver
operating in the 703-733 MHz band.
MS 36 Month Year
17
This level of performance is taken to be a notional level of performance with reference to a
radiocommunications receiver sensitivity level of -101 dBm measured within a 5 MHz rectangular
bandwidth that is within the frequency band of the spectrum licence.
Notional radiofrequency selectivity for the receiver (measured between the antenna and the antenna
connector of the equipment) may be assumed to be at least equal to:
(a) 2 + 70·log10[1+(2· FreqOffset /5)1.5] dB for FreqOffset = 2.5 MHz;
(b) 2 + 70·log10[1+(2· FreqOffset /5)2] dB for 2.5 < FreqOffset = 9 MHz; and
(c) 82 dB for FreqOffset > 9 MHz,
where FreqOffset is the smallest frequency difference between either the upper or lower limits of the
frequency band of the apparatus licence under which the receiver operates and any frequency outside
that frequency band.
These performance parameters of the notional radiocommunications receiver are defined at the antenna
connector port of the receiver unit, or in the case where additional devices such as filters or amplifiers are
installed in the signal path ahead of the receiver then the values are defined at the outer antenna
connector port. The notional antenna system for a radiocommunications receiver has an antenna gain of
15.7 dBi and a feeder loss of 3 dB.
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