The Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) has commenced a review of arrangements in the radiofrequency band from 803 to 960 MHz. This spectrum is currently used for a wide range of services including cellular mobile telephone services, land mobile services, fixed services class licensed devices including radiofrequency identification devices (RFIDs).

Project plan
The ACMA has developed a 900 MHz Review Project Plan to provide stakeholders with information regarding drivers, proposed objectives and a timeline for the review of the 900 MHz band.

Discussion paper
The ACMA has released a discussion paper, The 900 MHz band—Exploring new opportunities, (PDF 2 mb or Word 3.3 mb) to seek stakeholder views and ideas on potential changes to the 900 MHz band which include, but are possibly not limited to, the potential to:

replan and reallocate the segments currently planned for global system for mobile (GSM) to improve both technical and allocative efficiency
expand services, such as the 850 MHz spectrum-licensed segments or the adjacent land mobile segments, or enable new services in the 900 MHz band, such as the 850 MHz spectrum-licensed segments or the adjacent land mobile segments, using part of the digital dividend from 805–820 MHz paired with 850–865 MHz
replan the land mobile segments so that they may reach their highest value use
make spectrum available for smart infrastructure, or the possible expansion of the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) segment or other services in the band
replan a number of segments in the band that are underutilised or unused due to allocations to outmoded technologies or unrealised applications.
Submissions
Submissions on the issues raised in The 900 MHz band—Exploring new opportunities have now closed.

The ACMA received 63 submissions to the discussion paper.

On the 7th of December 2011 spectrum embargo 34, which covers the frequency ranges 857-859 MHz, 861-865 MHz and 933-935 MHz, was replaced with spectrum embargo 64 which covers the frequency ranges 803-825 MHz, 845-870 MHz and 890-960 MHz. This embargo on all new apparatus licence frequency assignments is to support the review of the 803-960 MHz band.