administration means a government or public authority of a country that is responsible for giving effect to the obligations of the country as an ITU member.
Note The ACMA is the Australian administration for radiocommunications.
aeronautical mobile (OR) service means an aeronautical mobile service for communications, including those relating to flight coordination, primarily outside national or international civil air routes.
aeronautical mobile (R) service means an aeronautical mobile service that is reserved for communications relating to the safety and regularity of flight, primarily along national or international civil air routes.
aeronautical mobile‑satellite (OR) service means an aeronautical mobile‑satellite service for communications, including those relating to flight coordination, primarily outside national and international civil air routes.
aeronautical mobile‑satellite (R) service means an aeronautical mobile‑satellite service that is reserved for communications relating to the safety and regularity of flight, primarily along national or international civil air routes.
Note In the definitions of aeronautical mobile (OR) service, aeronautical mobile (R) service, aeronautical mobile‑satellite (OR) service and aeronautical mobile‑satellite (R) service, (OR) means off‑route and (R) means route.
aeronautical mobile‑satellite service means a mobile‑satellite service in which:
(a) mobile earth stations are located on aircraft; and
(b) survival craft stations and emergency position‑indicating radiobeacon stations may participate.
aeronautical mobile service means any of the following mobile services:
(a) a mobile service, between aeronautical stations and aircraft stations, in which:
(i) survival craft stations may participate; and
(ii) emergency position‑indicating radiobeacon stations may participate on designated distress and emergency frequencies;
(b) a mobile service, between aircraft stations, in which:
(i) survival craft stations may participate; and
(ii) emergency position‑indicating radiobeacon stations may participate on designated distress and emergency frequencies.
aeronautical radionavigation service means a radionavigation service for the benefit and safe operation of aircraft.
amateur‑satellite service means a radiocommunication service using space stations on Earth satellites for an amateur service.
amateur service means a radiocommunication service for self‑training in, intercommunication using, and technical investigation into, radiocommunications by individuals who:
(a) are licensed under the Act to do so; and
(b) do so solely with a personal aim; and
(c) do not have a pecuniary interest in doing so.
assignment means an identification by the ACMA, or a person authorised by the ACMA, of:
(a) one or more frequencies as being suitable for use by a device, subject to particular conditions; or
(b) one or more frequency channels as being suitable for use by a device, subject to particular conditions.
atmospheric and ionospheric sounder means a station that uses radio waves to determine the physical characteristics of the atmosphere and the ionosphere.
Australian footnote reference means the combination of the letters ‘AUS’ and a number, that refers to an item in Part 3.
broadcasting‑satellite service means a broadcasting service transmitted by means of one or more space stations.
broadcasting service means a radiocommunication service that delivers radio programs or television programs to persons having equipment that may receive the service, but does not include the following services:
(a) a service (including a teletext service) that transmits data only, with or without associated still images;
(b) a service (including a teletext service) that transmits text only, with or without associated still images;
(c) a service that makes programs available on demand on a point‑to‑point basis, including a dial‑up service;
(d) a service that the Minister determines by notice in the Gazette not to be a broadcasting service within the meaning of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.
communication includes communication:
(a) between:
(i) persons; or
(ii) things; or
(iii) persons and things; and
(b) in any form, or combination of forms, including the following:
(i) speech, music or other sounds;
(ii) data;
(iii) text;
(iv) visual images, whether or not animated;
(v) signals.
earth exploration‑satellite service:
(a) means a radiocommunication service (that may include links between space stations) between earth stations and one or more space stations:
(i) by which information relating to the characteristics of the Earth and its natural phenomena is obtained from active or passive sensors on Earth satellites; and
(ii) by which similar information is collected from airborne or Earth‑based platforms; and
(iii) by which the information may be distributed to earth stations participating in the service; and
(iv) by which platform interrogation may be carried out; and
emergency position‑indicating radiobeacon station means a station in the mobile service the emissions of which are intended to assist search and rescue operations.
experimental station means a station (except an amateur station) that uses radio waves in experiments for the development of science or technique.
feeder link means a radio link:
(a) that involves an earth station at a particular fixed point, or at a fixed point within a particular area; and
(b) that is for the use of a space radiocommunication service other than a fixed‑satellite service; and
(c) that is:
(i) from an earth station of the kind mentioned in paragraph (a) to a space station; or
(ii) from a space station to an earth station of the kind mentioned in paragraph (a).
fixed‑satellite service means a radiocommunication service, including any feeder link that is necessary for the operation of another space radiocommunication service, with the following characteristics:
(a) the service is between earth stations at particular fixed points, or at fixed points within particular areas;
(b) the service uses:
(i) one or more satellites; and
(ii) a satellite‑to‑satellite link (if any) that may use the inter‑satellite service.
fixed service means a radiocommunication service between particular fixed points.
frequency band includes part of a frequency band that is specified in column 2 of the Table.
frequency channel means a sub‑band that:
(a) is in a frequency band; and
(b) has a particular centre frequency.
harmful interference means interference that:
(a) endangers the functioning of a radionavigation service or other safety services that are operating in accordance with:
(i) the Radio Regulations; or
(ii) this Spectrum Plan; or
(b) obstructs, repeatedly interrupts or seriously degrades a radiocommunication service that is operating in accordance with:
(i) the Radio Regulations; or
(ii) this Spectrum Plan.
high altitude platform station means a station located on an object at an altitude of between 20 and 50 km, that is above a particular nominal place on the Earth’s surface.
industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications means the operation of a device or equipment that is designed to generate and apply locally radio frequency energy, except for telecommunications.
Examples of equipment used in ISM applications for industrial, scientific, medical and domestic purposes:
plastic welders
chemical analysis equipment
medical diathermy equipment
microwave ovens.
international footnote reference means a number, or the combination of a number and a letter, that refers to an item in Part 4.
inter‑satellite service means a radiocommunication service providing links between artificial satellites.
ITU means the International Telecommunication Union.
land mobile service means a mobile service:
(a) between base stations and land mobile stations; or
(b) between land mobile stations.
maritime mobile‑satellite service means a mobile‑satellite service in which:
(a) mobile earth stations are located on ships; and
(b) survival craft stations and emergency position‑indicating radiobeacon stations may participate.
maritime mobile service means any of the following mobile services:
(a) a mobile service, between coast stations and ship stations, in which survival craft stations and emergency position‑indicating radiobeacon stations may participate;
(b) a mobile service, between ship stations, in which survival craft stations and emergency position‑indicating radiobeacon stations may participate;
(c) a mobile service, between associated on‑board communications stations (whether or not the stations are operated on ships), in which survival craft stations and emergency position‑indicating radiobeacon stations may participate.
maritime radionavigation service means a radionavigation service for the benefit and safe operation of ships.
meteorological aids service means a radiocommunication service for meteorological (including hydrological) observations and exploration.
meteorological‑satellite service means an earth exploration‑satellite service that is used for meteorological purposes.
mobile‑satellite service means any of the following radiocommunications services, including any feeder link that is necessary for the operation of the service:
(a) a radiocommunication service between one or more mobile earth stations and one or more space stations;
(b) a radiocommunication service between space stations used by the service;
(c) a radiocommunication service between mobile earth stations by means of one or more space stations.
mobile service means a radiocommunication service:
(a) between mobile stations and land stations; or
(b) between mobile stations.
offshore area has the same meaning as in the Offshore Minerals Act 1994.
program, in relation to a broadcasting service, means:
(a) matter the primary purpose of which is to entertain, to educate or to inform an audience; or
(b) advertising or sponsorship matter, whether or not of a commercial kind.
public correspondence means any telecommunication:
(a) that is accepted for transmission by a station because the station is available for use by the public; or
(b) that is accepted for transmission by a person or body because the person or body is obliged to accept the telecommunication from the public for transmission.
radio astronomy means astronomy based on the reception of radio waves of cosmic origin.
radio astronomy service means a radiocommunication service that is used for radio astronomy.
radiodetermination means either or both of the following, carried out on the basis of the propagation properties of radio waves:
(a) determining the position, velocity or other characteristics of an object;
(b) obtaining information about those characteristics.
radiodetermination‑satellite service:
(a) means a radiocommunication service involving the use of one or more space stations for radiodetermination; and
radiodetermination service means a radiocommunication service that is used for radiodetermination.
radiolocation means radiodetermination that is used for a purpose other than radionavigation.
radiolocation‑satellite service:
(a) means a radiodetermination‑satellite service that is used for radiolocation; and
radiolocation service means a radiodetermination service that is used for radiolocation.
radionavigation means radiodetermination used for navigation or obstruction warning.
radionavigation‑satellite service:
(a) means a radiodetermination‑satellite service used for radionavigation; and
(b) includes any feeder link necessary for the operation of the service
radionavigation service means a radiodetermination service for the purpose of radionavigation.
Radio Regulations means the document:
(a) titled ‘Radio Regulations’ as existing from time to time; and
(b) published by the ITU.
Note The Radio Regulations published by the ITU are not regulations made by the Governor‑General under the Act.
radio waves means electromagnetic waves of frequencies less than 420 THz that are propagated in space without an artificial guide.
reflecting satellite means a satellite that is intended to reflect radiocommunication signals.
safety service means a radiocommunication service used at any time for the safeguarding of human life or property.
satellite means a body that:
(a) revolves around another body of preponderant mass; and
(b) has a motion primarily and permanently determined by the force of attraction of the other body.
service means a service mentioned in column 2 of the Table.
Note Any service mentioned in column 1 of the Table is specified in the Radio Regulations and may be defined differently to a service of the same name in column 2 of the Table.
space operation service means a radiocommunication service that operates only for purposes relating to the operation of spacecraft, in particular:
(a) space tracking; and
(b) space telemetry; and
(c) space telecommand.
Note The functions mentioned above will normally be provided within the service in which the space station is operating.
space radiocommunication means radiocommunication using one or more space stations, reflecting satellites or other objects in space.
space research service means a radiocommunication service in which spacecraft or other objects in space are used for scientific or technological research.
space station means a station on an object that is beyond, is intended to go beyond or has been beyond the major portion of the Earth’s atmosphere.
specified service means a service that uses the frequency band, mentioned in column 2 of the Table, that is allocated for the service.
standard frequency and time signal‑satellite service:
(a) means a standard frequency and time signal service that uses space stations on Earth satellites; and
standard frequency and time signal service means a radiocommunication service that involves transmission of specified frequencies or time signals of a stated high precision for general reception.
survival craft station means a mobile station in the maritime mobile service or the aeronautical mobile service that is:
(a) intended only for use for survival purposes; and
(b) located on a lifeboat, life‑raft or other survival equipment.
Table means the Table of Frequency Band Allocations in Part 2.
telecommunications means communications carried by electromagnetic energy that is guided, unguided, or both guided and unguided.
terrestrial radiocommunication means radiocommunication other than space radiocommunication or radio astronomy.
tropospheric scatter system means a system of communicating using radio waves that are propagated by scattering as a result of irregularities or discontinuities in the physical properties of the troposphere.
unspecified service means a service that uses a frequency band, mentioned in column 2 of the Table, that is not allocated for the service.
(2) If an expression is defined in this Spectrum Plan, and different words are used to define the expression in the Radio Regulations, the expression is not taken to have a different meaning if the words used in both documents appear to express the same idea.
(4) In this Spectrum Plan, a reference to a radiocommunication service is a reference to a radiocommunication service for terrestrial radiocommunication, unless another kind of radiocommunication is specified.
(5) Notes to provisions of this Spectrum Plan, except the notes described as Australian or International footnotes in Part 3 or 4, are included for information only and are not part of the Spectrum Plan.
(6) In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to another legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time.
Note 1 For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments.
Note 2 All Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments are registered in the Federal Register of Legislation.
Note 3 Under s 314A of this Act instruments may provide for matters by reference to other instruments as in force at a particular time; or as in force from time to time.
(7) In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to an instrument or other writing (other than a legislative instrument) is a reference to that instrument or writing as existing from time to time.
Section 3 - Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan (2025 Update) 2021 - Definitions | Zoe