Energy network lobby wants 10-15MHz of free wireless spectrum

First 13 of 13 paragraphs shown The seven electricity distributors of energy networks lobby wanted a large slice of exclusive National Broadband Network wireless spectrum so its members could sell data services and new forms of local generation, to householders and small business. It argued its members should get spectrum allocated, at low cost.
Big rise in data-use forecast: Network operators, market operators (AEMO), customers, retailers, generators, meter providers, meter data agents would all need data, and did not wamt to pay other wholesalers to get it; they wanted to compete with wholesalers.
Spectrum shortage: Energy utilities reported “difficulties in acquiring access to appropriate spectrum for the wireless components of its smart network on a commercial basis”.
What the network lobby wanted:
- 10-15MHz of spectrum;
Free spectrum? The plan was ‘spectrum access charge applicable to the use of such spectrum in smart networks by reference to considerations other than purely commercial ones’;
- for a sufficient period to ensure that smart networks builds can be justified".
Feds told to hop to it: ‘Federal Government should establish a formal liaison process with the electricity industry to ensure that sufficient appropriate spectrum is identified and set aside’.
ENA wanted: ‘Federal Government appoint a joint working group, comprising energy industry and National Broadband Network representatives
Control over spectrum: ‘dedicated portion of telecommunications spectrum available nationwide for the purposes of implementing smart networks
And to write its own rules: ‘regulation of this spectrum should be aligned to the requirements of smart network infrastructure'.

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