Part 6 Systems operating under the Aeronautical Radionavigation Service

16 Background

(1) Many aeronautical services operate in the 960 MHz to 1215 MHz frequency band, above the 900 MHz spectrum licensed band upper boundary at 960 MHz. Many of these are transponder-based, using discrete frequency pairs (namely 1030 MHz and 1090 MHz). The scope of this instrument is limited to compatibility with services operating within 20 MHz above the 960 MHz boundary, which in Australia is exclusively used by distance measuring equipment and tactical air navigation systems. (2) The radiocommunications transmitters below 960 MHz, which have been used as base stations for 2G, 3G and 4G public mobile telecommunications services, have operated under apparatus licences for many years, without causing interference to aeronautical services above 960 MHz. The section 17 protection requirement is intended to ensure ongoing protection of aeronautical services from interference from radiocommunications transmitters below 960 MHz, used as base stations for 4G and 5G (and future generation) public mobile telecommunications services, operated under spectrum licences.

17 Protection requirements

A spectrum licensed radiocommunications transmitter that is a base station, and that operates in the 900 MHz band, must protect existing stations appearing in the Register in the 960 MHz to 980 MHz frequency band under the licence type “aeronautical system” to a level of -129 dBW/MHz at the antenna connector, assuming an antenna gain of 9 dBi in any direction if gain and azimuth is not otherwise specified in the Register.