Beyond 2020— a spectrum management strategy to address the growth in mobile broadband capacity

The spectrum management implications of the growth in demand for mobile broadband capacity continue to be important issues for the ACMA. Mobile broadband spectrum management is one area where the ACMA has, for a number of years, provided very detailed public guidance on its associated strategy and work plan, given its importance and the potential effect on incumbent users. The ACMA’s last substantial publication on this issue was in May 2011 with the release of Towards 2020—Future spectrum requirements for mobile broadband. In the four years that have passed since the publication of Towards 2020, a number of developments have occurred, making it timely for the ACMA to review and rearticulate its strategies for addressing the growth in mobile broadband capacity. In understanding and addressing mobile broadband growth, it is important to note that increases in mobile broadband capacity are enabled by three main factors: access to additional spectrum or improved use of existing spectrum use of increasingly spectrally efficient technologies deployment of appropriate network infrastructure and topologies. The mobile broadband industry has a leading role to play in the realisation of these factors. Enabling mobile broadband capacity growth is therefore the collective responsibility of both the ACMA and industry. However, the development of spectrum management arrangements that support the growth in mobile broadband capacity must be balanced with the ongoing requirements for other uses of the spectrum. The evidence suggests Australia currently has sufficient spectrum available for mobile broadband services in the short to medium term. However, long lead-times for making additional spectrum available and the importance of international harmonisation compel the ACMA, as Australia’s spectrum regulator, to press ahead with work in this area if it is to have options available in the very likely scenario that future demand for additional spectrum eventuates. The ACMA has abandoned its focus on explicit quantitative targets of spectrum to be made available for mobile broadband, which have been found to be rigid and unresponsive. The ACMA has shifted towards a contingency planning model focused on the outcome of mobile broadband capacity growth that will enable the right spectrum to be made available, at the right time, for mobile broadband. This change in approach will allow the ACMA to be more flexible and responsive to the rapidly changing environment. A set of proposed strategies, including a transparent spectrum management planning process for identifying potential future spectrum options for mobile broadband, have been developed to guide the ACMA in its actions. The proposed strategies are: Encouraging a holistic approach to addressing the outcome of mobile broadband capacity growth that balances the available inputs of spectrum, technology and network infrastructure/topology. Articulation of a transparent spectrum management process for identifying potential future spectrum options for mobile broadband. This includes the identification of a pool of potential spectrum options at varying stages of consideration. This will provide the ACMA with capacity to react to demand requirements on a contingency basis if and when needed, and when the evidence suggests that mobile broadband is, or is becoming, the highest value use of a particular band. Where possible, utilisation of the often long lead-times to assist in reducing the effect on incumbents arising from re-farming of spectrum to mobile broadband. Exploration and, where appropriate, the adoption of opportunities for greater sharing between mobile broadband services and other services. Engagement in international deliberations to influence the development of domestically suitable internationally harmonised spectrum options. While most of the fundamental concepts for management of spectrum for mobile broadband remain consistent with past practice, some of the strategies represent refinements of the ACMA’s traditional approach