(Image: Bureau of Meteorology)
Moving wireless providers to the 5.6GHz band thanks to the upcoming 5G spectrum auction on the 3.6GHz band could impact weather satellites across most of the nation, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has said.
"The Bureau of Meteorology is concerned the reallocation of Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) to the 5.6GHz band could interfere with existing radars and constrain future expansion and reconfiguration of its radar network," the BoM said in response to Senate Estimates Questions on Notice.
The 5.6GHz spectrum is currently used for BOM's 47 C-Band weather radars.
Potentially affected C-Band weather radar locations shown on BOM's map include Sydney (Kurnell), Melbourne Airport, Melbourne (Laverton), Adelaide (Sellicks Hill), Perth Airport, Perth (Serpentine), Hobart Airport, Hobart (Mt Koonya), Cairns, Townsville (Hervey Range), Wagga Wagga, Kalgoorlie, Mildura, Geraldton, NW Tasmania (West Takone), Yarrawonga, Broadmeadows, Mt Gambier, Moree, Woomera, Ceduna, Bairnsdale, Warrego, Longreach, Mackay, Bowen, Weipa, Albany, Esperance, Newdegate, South Doodlakine, and Watheroo.
Unaffected C-band weather radars are limited to Darwin (Berrimah), Darwin Airport, Alice Springs, Broome, Norfolk Island, Katherine (Tindal), Port Hedland, Mornington Island, Willis Island, Warruwi, Wyndham, Halls Creek, Dampier, Learmonth, Carnarvon, and Giles.
According to the BoM, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) had consulted BOM directly, via email, and via its public consultation process on the spectrum reallocation before reaching the decision to shift WISPs and satellite providers over to make way for mobile broadband.
The ACMA had released its five-year plan for spectrum[1] allocation in October alongside "a range of mitigation measures" for incumbent users in the 3.6GHz band, including "a commitment to developing arrangements for site-based wireless broadband services in the 5.6GHz" band, support for ongoing access to spectrum, and identifying earth station protection