RSM proposes short-term 3.5 GHz band allocation

New Zealand’s Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) has called for expressions of interest from industry players that might be open to a proposed short-term allocation of spectrum in the upper portion of the 3.5 GHz band (3590 to 3800 MHz).

In an update circulated and published on the RSM site, the government body says that it “wishes to directly engage with parties that have capability to deploy 5G services in the timeframe mid-2020 to October 2022. Applicants will need to demonstrate that they have the technical and financial capacity to deliver a service within this time period.”

The update goes on to specify that:

• the short-term allocation process would be separate to the allocation of long-term rights commencing in November 2022;
• short-term rights would not guarantee placement in the 3.5 GHz band from November 2022;
• there are encumbrances in and adjacent to the frequencies to be made available, and short-term rights-holders would need to ensure they cause no harmful interference;
• short-term rights would only be issued for 5G services.
   

Interested parties should submit expression of interest forms by no later than 5 pm on Friday, 4 October 2019, by emailing Radio.Spectrum@mbie.govt.nz with the subject line: “Expressions of Interest – Short-term Allocation of Spectrum in the Upper Portion of the 3.5 GHz Band”.

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