Australian Band Plan Gets Sweeping Review

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The last major changes to Australia's national band plan were put in place nearly a decade ago, prompting the Wireless Institute of Australia to launch a sweeping review of everything, proposing changes across almost all bands.

Regulatory changes and shifts in on-air activity are two of the major drivers behind a wide-ranging overhaul being considered for Australia's ham bands. The WIA's Technical Advisory Committee opened a community consultation on the 17th of October and is expecting hams who have made requests over the years to formally weigh in on these proposals until the deadline on the 12th December 2025.

The proposed changes accommodate growth in the use of new modes and new areas of interest, particularly those involving the use of digital technology. They include revising ATV segments based on widespread adoption of Digital ATV modes; a review of repeater sub-bands considering the growth of digital voice hotspots on 2m and 70cm. Band plan data for the Microwave bands between 24 and 134 GHz are also being reviewed.

On HF, the proposal will try to achieve better alignment of band plans, including 630 metres and 160 metres.

The WIA is seeking responses only from licensed hams and clubs based in Australia. Revisions are expected to be published by the end of the first quarter of next year.

All Amateur Radio Licenses in Equatorial Guinea re Temporarily Suspended

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All Amateur Radio Licenses in Equatorial Guinea re Temporarily Suspended

The decision was adopted in a meeting chaired by the Vice President of the Republic in charge of Defense and State Security, H.E. Nguema Obiang Mangue, together with the Prime Minister and representatives from the sectors of Security, Defense, Finance, Transport, Treasury, and the Telecommunications Regulatory Office (ORTEL). The suspension stems from a breach in the established protocols for granting licenses.

The measure was taken following the discovery of a case in which a foreign national, operating as a radio amateur, accessed sensitive areas such as Annobón and Batete using unauthorized telecommunications equipment. This individual had obtained licenses in 2018 and again in 2025, paying a total of 531,000 F.CFA, without proper verification of the equipment’s legality or the compliance of the assigned frequencies with national regulations.

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FCC Grants Limited Use of Amateur Bands to AST Spacemobile

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The Federal Communications Commission approved limited use of amateur frequencies for 20 satellites to be deployed by a Texas broadband company.

The FCC's Space Bureau said in a statement that it was giving permission to AST SpaceMobile to use frequencies between 430 and 440 MHz on an emergency basis only, The regulator said its move was in direct response to overwhelming concerns raised by amateur radio operators.

Citing potential interference among their issues, member societies of the International Amateur Radio Union, AMSAT, the ARRL and individual amateurs worldwide also argued that alternate UHF allocations exist for the satellites' telemetry, tracking and command functions. More than 2,500 comments were submitted to the FCC .

The FCC's action gives use of the amateur frequencies to the satellites for no more than a 24-hour period. The amateur radio 70cm band is used by hams worldwide for such applications as mobile FM voice, analogue and digital TV, digital data transmission, amateur radio satellites and weak-signal communications on SSB and CW.

AST SpaceMobile ultimately plans a full constellation of 248 satellites for broadband service from space.