{"id":"F2020L01407","name":"Radiocommunications (Spectrum Re-allocation—850/900 MHz Band) Declaration 2020","slug":"radiocommunications-spectrum-re-allocation-850-900-mhz-band-declaration-2020","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":130639,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2020L01407-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n This instrument is the Radiocommunications (Spectrum Re-allocation—850/900 MHz Band) Declaration 2020.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n```html\n

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1. The whole of this instrument.

The day after this instrument is registered.

\n```\n\n> Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n This instrument is made under subsection 153B(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"#### 4 Interpretation\n\n> Note 1: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:\n\n (a) ACMA;\n (b) re-allocation deadline;\n (c) re-allocation period;\n (d) spectrum;\n (e) spectrum licence;\n (f) spectrum re-allocation declaration.\n\n> Note 2: See also section 5, in relation to re-allocation deadline and re-allocation period.\n\n (1) In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.\n\n> Hierarchical Cell Identification Scheme or HCIS means the Hierarchical Cell Identification Scheme used as a part of the Australian Spectrum Map Grid 2012 document published by the ACMA on its website, as the document existed at the time this instrument was made.\n\n (2) In this instrument, a reference to a part of the spectrum includes all frequencies that are greater than the lower frequency, up to and including the higher frequency.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Spectrum re-allocation","content":"#### 5 Spectrum re-allocation\n\n (1) The following parts of the spectrum are subject to re‑allocation under Part 3.6 of the Act in accordance with subsection (2):\n (a) 814 MHz to 825 MHz ;\n (b) 859 MHz to 870 MHz;\n (c) 890 MHz to 915 MHz;\n (d) 935 MHz to 960 MHz.\n (2) The parts of the spectrum referred to in subsection 5(1) are subject to re‑allocation under Part 3.6 of the Act:\n (a) by issuing spectrum licences under Subdivision B of Division 1 of Part 3.2 of the Act (see section 153L of the Act); and\n (b) with respect to the named area in the table in subsection (4).\n (3) For this spectrum re-allocation declaration:\n (a) the re-allocation period is the period beginning at the time this instrument commences and ending on 30 June 2024; and\n (b) the re-allocation deadline is 30 June 2023.\n (4) The area (named area) referred to in column 1 in the following table is to be ascertained as the composite of the areas, described using identifiers from the Hierarchical Cell Identification Scheme, set out in column 2:\n\n> Note 1: The HCIS is a naming convention for areas on the Australian Spectrum Map Grid 2012 (ASMG), which is a system used by the ACMA to define geographic areas for radiocommunications licensing. A document describing the ASMG and HCIS, as well as spatial datasets describing each HCIS area could, at the time this instrument was made, be found on the ACMA’s website ([http://www.acma.gov.au](http://www.acma.gov.au)).\n\n> Note 2: A tool to convert lists of HCIS area descriptions, such as the list contained in the below table, into Placemark files to allow these areas to be visualised using computer mapping software could, at the time this instrument was made, be found on the ACMA’s website ([http://www.acma.gov.au](http://www.acma.gov.au)).\n\n```html\n

Area with respect to which this spectrum re-allocation declaration applies

Item

Column 1

Named Area

Column 2

Areas forming the named area (HCIS Identifiers)

1

Australia-wide area

BR, BS, BU, BV, CR, CS, CT, CU, CV, DQ, DR, DS, DT, DU, DV, EP, EQ, ER, ES, ET, EU, FP, FQ, FR, FS, FT, FU, GP, GQ, GR, GS, GT, GU, HO, HP, HQ, HR, HS, HT, HU, IO, IP, IQ, IR, IS, IT, IU, IV, IW, JO, JP, JQ, JR, JS, JT, JU, JV, JW, KQ, KR, KS, KT, KU, KV, KW, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, LW, LX, LY, MS, MT, MU, MV, MW, NT, NU, AR8, AR9, AS2, AS3, AS5, AS6, AS8, AS9, AT1, AT2, AT3, AT5, AT6, AT8, AT9, AU2, AU3, AU6, AU9, AV9, AW3, BT1, BT2, BT3, BW1, BW2, BW3, BW5, BW6, CW1, CW2, CW3, CW4, DW1, DW2, DW3, EV1, EV2, EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, EV7, FV1, FV2, FV3, FV4, FV5, GO3, GO4, GO5, GO6, GO7, GO8, GO9, GV1, GV2, GV3, GV6, HV1, HV2, HV3, HV4, HV5, HV6, HV8, HV9, HW3, HW6, JX1, JX2, JX3, JX5, JX6, KO1, KO4, KO5, KO7, KO8, KP1, KP2, KP4, KP5, KP6, KP7, KP8, KP9, KX1, KX2, KX3, KX4, KX5, KX6, KX8, KX9, KY2, KY3, KY6, LP4, LP7, LQ1, LQ2, LQ4, LQ5, LQ7, LQ8, LZ1, LZ2, LZ3, MR1, MR4, MR5, MR7, MR8, MR9, MX1, MX2, MX3, MX4, MX7, MY1, MY4, MY7, MZ1, NS4, NS7, NS8, NS9, NV1, NV2, NV3, NV4, NV5, NV7, BT4A, BT4B, BT4C, BT4E, BT4F, BT4G, BT4I, BT4J, BT4K, BT4M, BT4N, BT4O, BT6C, BT6D, BT6G, BT6H, BT6K, BT6L, BT6O, BT6P, BT7A, BT7B, BT7C, BT7E, BT7F, BT7G, BT7I, BT7J, BT7K, BT7L, BT7M, BT7N, BT7O, BT7P, BT8I, BT8J, BT8K, BT8L, BT8M, BT8N, BT8O, BT8P, BT9C, BT9D, BT9G, BT9H, BT9I, BT9J, BT9K, BT9L, BT9M, BT9N, BT9O, BT9P, NW1A, NW1B, NW1C, NW1D, NW1E, NW1F, NW1G, NW1H, NW1I, NW1J, NW1K, NW1L, BT4D1, BT4D2, BT4D4, BT4D5, BT4D7, BT4D8, BT4H1, BT4H2, BT4H4, BT4H5, BT4H7, BT4H8, BT4L1, BT4L2, BT4L4, BT4L5, BT4L7, BT4L8, BT4P1, BT4P2, BT4P4, BT4P5, BT4P7, BT4P8, BT6B3, BT6B6, BT6B9, BT6F3, BT6F6, BT6F9, BT6J3, BT6J6, BT6J9, BT6N3, BT6N6, BT6N9, BT7D1, BT7D2, BT7D4, BT7D5, BT7D7, BT7D8, BT7H1, BT7H2, BT7H4, BT7H5, BT7H7, BT7H8, BT7H9, BT8E7, BT8E8, BT8E9, BT8F7, BT8F8, BT8F9, BT8G7, BT8G8, BT8G9, BT8H7, BT8H8, BT8H9, BT9B3, BT9B6, BT9B9, BT9E7, BT9E8, BT9E9, BT9F3, BT9F6, BT9F7, BT9F8, BT9F9, NW1M1, NW1M2, NW1M3, NW1M4, NW1M5, NW1M7, NW1M8, NW1N1, NW1N2, NW1N3, NW1O1, NW1O2, NW1O3, NW1P1, NW1P2, NW1P3

\n```","sortOrder":4}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument narrowly declares specified frequency bands, the method of re‑allocation (spectrum licences), the geographic coverage via HCIS identifiers, and the timetable (s5). It does not expand or narrow those elements within the text beyond that stated purpose; any change to scope would require a different or amending instrument or action under the Act (s3, s5)."},"complexity_factors":["Technical specificity of frequency ranges is straightforward, but requires technical expertise to interpret (s5(1)).","Allocation mechanism is by spectrum licences under existing Act provisions, so understanding depends on cross‑referencing Part 3.6 and Subdivision B of Division 1 of Part 3.2 of the Radiocommunications Act (s3, s5(2)(a)).","Tight timetable (re‑allocation deadline 30 June 2023; period until 30 June 2024) creates implementation and compliance pressure for incumbents and applicants (s5(3)).","Geographic scope is defined by an extensive list of HCIS identifiers; mapping those HCIS codes to real areas requires use of ACMA spatial datasets or tools (s4, notes to s5(4)).","Instrument is declaratory and limited in text (single substantive clause), leaving administrative discretion to ACMA in licensing processes under the Act (s3, s5(2)(a))."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument declares four slices of the 850/900 MHz band (814–825, 859–870, 890–915, 935–960 MHz) to be re‑allocated by the ACMA through spectrum licences under the Radiocommunications Act (see s3, s5). It applies Australia‑wide as specified by HCIS area codes and sets a re‑allocation period to commencement until 30 June 2024 with a re‑allocation deadline of 30 June 2023, affecting current spectrum users and prospective licensees who will face licensing, migration and compliance costs (see s4, s5)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument remains tightly focused on its original purpose: declaring specific spectrum bands for reallocation under the Radiocommunications Act's Part 3.6 framework. The geographic scope (Australia-wide) and the frequency ranges specified align with the declared intent of reallocating 850/900 MHz band spectrum. There is no evidence of scope creep; the detailed HCIS identifiers, while extensive, are necessary technical specifications for implementing the declared reallocation area rather than an expansion beyond the original purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy reliance on external technical documents: the Australian Spectrum Map Grid 2012 and Hierarchical Cell Identification Scheme (HCIS) are incorporated by reference but not reproduced in the instrument","Extensive geographic specification: 247 individual HCIS identifiers listed in a complex table, many with nested alphanumeric codes (e.g., BT4D1, NW1M7)","Cross-referencing to primary legislation: operates under Part 3.6 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and invokes Subdivision B of Division 1 of Part 3.2, requiring familiarity with the Act's structure","Technical frequency notation: uses precise MHz ranges with inclusive/exclusive boundary rules requiring careful interpretation","Temporal complexity: distinguishes between 're-allocation period' (end date 30 June 2024) and 're-allocation deadline' (30 June 2023), creating a two-phase implementation"],"plain_english_summary":"This declaration directs ACMA to reallocate the 850/900 MHz band across Australia for new mobile broadband use (4G/5G), converting current uses into long-term, tradable spectrum licences. It sets a reallocation window to 30 June 2024 with a firm completion deadline of 30 June 2023.\n\nExisting users must cease or renegotiate access, mobile operators can acquire licences to expand coverage—especially regionally—and consumers should see improved rural building-penetrating mobile service and cheaper global-compatible equipment."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-spectrum-re-allocation-850-900-mhz-band-declaration-2020","history":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-spectrum-re-allocation-850-900-mhz-band-declaration-2020/history","analysis":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-spectrum-re-allocation-850-900-mhz-band-declaration-2020/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-spectrum-re-allocation-850-900-mhz-band-declaration-2020/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-spectrum-re-allocation-850-900-mhz-band-declaration-2020/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-spectrum-re-allocation-850-900-mhz-band-declaration-2020/documents"}}