Wireless Access Services

ACMA/ITU International Training Program5 September 2006

Nevio Marinelli & Christine AllenWireless Access Services Planning Team

What are wireless access services (WAS)?

Services delivered by telecommunications carriers, internet service providers (ISPs) or other providers using a radio connection from an end-user to a core network

What are wireless access services (WAS)? (cont.)Examples of WAS include:

• broadband/fixed wireless access(BWA/FWA)

• cellular mobile networks

• wireless local loop (WLL)

• multipoint distribution system (MDS)

• radio local area network (RLAN)

What spectrum does WAS use?

• From 600 MHz to 6 GHz• Most demand is for 700 MHz to 3.6 GHz• Lower frequencies are more popular (propagation)• Existing users usually not willing to move• Options vary internationally• Goal: common regional/international arrangements

How much bandwidth?

It depends on:

services offered

number of competitors

spectrum arrangements

technology (some better than other)

area to be served (city, regional or rural)

number of base stations

How much bandwidth? (cont.)

5-15 MHz per operator is sufficient now

More spectrum is better for the operator, but:it does not encourage good system design or use

of appropriate technology, and

can often result in congestion when capacity is reached and no more spectrum is available.

Future requirements 30-60 MHz per operator or more

Current WAS Spectrum

825-845 MHz & 870-890 MHz

890-915 MHz & 935-960 MHz

900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz ISM bands

1710-1785 MHz & 1805-1880 MHz

1900-1920 MHz

1920-1980 MHz & 2110-2170 MHz

2302-2400 MHz

3400-3600 MHz

Recent WAS initiativesAuctioning of the 2010-2025 MHz band

will take place by end of 2006

optimised for WAS/BWA

Regional and remote Australiaover-the-counter licences in the 1.5 and 1.9 GHz bands

low-cost backhaul option in the 5.8 GHz band

Demand for WAS is increasing

Many indicators of increasing demand:rapid development of new technologies

increasing number of operators

increase in international activity (ITU, WiMAX forum)

increase in number of licences for WAS

This means that more spectrum may be needed to support WAS

What is driving demand?

Federal Government policies and programse.g. funding programs

Services in regional and remote areasparity with services in metropolitan areas

The benefits of spectrum harmonisation economies of scale, interoperability

New applicationsmany require greater bandwidth

So what does a planner do ?

Good research

Good engineering

Sound planning

Ask industry

Leave as much as possible for industry to decide

Regulator is not the expert

Preparing for the future

Development of spectrum strategies:

short, medium and long term

discussion paper released in February 2006

stakeholder seminar in March 2006

47 submissions received

input being used to guide development of strategies

further consultation required

Why do we need strategies?

Increasing importance of broadbandsocial and economic benefits

% provided by WAS is currently low

Increasingly complex marketlarge and small operators

Spectrum demandhow much and when?

Discussion paper - questions

Are current spectrum allocations for WAS sufficient?

If not, how much spectrum is required? When?

Future regulatory frameworks

Existing users

Regulation

ACMA’s objectiveminimise impediments

Current arrangementsadequate but have pros and cons

New technologies require new approachneed to be more flexible and responsive

Balance needs of new and existing usersmaximising public benefit

Discussion paper – potential bands for WAS

Short term

1785-1805 MHz

Medium term

1725-1785 MHz & 1820-1880 MHz

1920-1960 MHz & 2110-2150 MHz

2500-2690 MHz

3575-3710 MHz

4940-4990 MHz

Discussion paper – potential bands for WAS (cont.)

Long term

520-820 MHz

820-960 MHz

3710-4200 MHz

Questions?

Thank you

For more information please visit the Wireless Access Services webpage on ACMA’s website at: http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.:STANDARD::pc=PC_100424

Email enquiries may be sent to:

WAS-planning@acma.gov.au