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 freqplan@acma.gov.au. 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.

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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

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Amendment history

Version Date of Effect Comments

1.0 TBA Initial release

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

freqplan@acma.gov.au.

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

MS 36 Month Year

15

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

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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.