Telecommunication players Field Solutions Group, Telstra, Starlink, Optus and Opticomm are amongst the list of 15 applicants that’ve been offered a mmWave license by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
The other 15 telecom companies that have been offered a license in the 26 GHz & 28 GHz band are Dreamtilt, MarchNet, Inmarsat, NBN Co, Nokia, Optus, Starlink (SpaceX), Telstra, Vocus, WorldVu (One Web), New Skies Satellites/SES S.A., Viasat and O3B/SES S.A. This significant move is the first major mmWave spectrum allocation by the telecom industry regulator.
ACMA’s 5G mmWave application process
The ACMA said the mmWave spectrum is allocated via an area-wide apparatus licence. The license represents the first step in the series of 5G-ready allocations in these mmWave spectrum bands.
According to telecom regulatory, a large number of applicants intend to offer wireless broadband services across all states and territories and across regional, urban and rural areas. The ACMA said in a statement that there’s also considerable uptake from fixed satellite service providers across the country which includes the existing providers along with new entrants to the Australian satellite market.
Spectrum which wasn’t allocated in the initial round of application the 26 GHz (24.7 GHz -25.1 GHz) and 28 GHz (27.5 GHz – 29.5 GHz) bands will be made available for allocation in January 2021.
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What is mmWave?
Pronounced as millimetre wave, mmWave is a short-ranged high frequency network technology that increases the power of 5G technology by manifold. The mmWave spectrum is an imperative ingredient in the 5G technology rollout as it enables the transfer of huge amounts of data with minimal delay, faster digital communication and new connectivity opportunities.
5G technology is made up of numerous technologies that work together to deliver a seamless experience to users and one such technology is mmWave. It has more bandwidth and is a step closer towards delivering on the true potential of 5G with faster speeds and more capacity. The technology is best suited for areas where huge amounts of users are concentrated, for example crowded train stations, stadiums, shopping centres, etc.
mmWave is not a new telecommunications technology in Australia. It is already being used in wireless services such as satellite internet and fixed point-to-point communications infrastructure. Latest developments in the technology have led to advancements in high-speed wireless technology.
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