What changed on 1 October 2025
The Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2025 commenced at the start of 1 October 2025 and replaced the 2015 instrument, which was due to sunset on that date. The class licence is what allows WiFi, short-range links and many other low-power transmitters to be used in Australia without an individual licence, as long as the equipment meets the conditions set out in it.
Several changes matter for event and temporary networks:
- Millimetre-wave data links now run from 57 to 71 GHz. The licence lists data communication transmitters across 57 to 71 GHz with a maximum EIRP of 20 W, and a separate item for fixed point-to-point links in the same range that must not be used indoors. Industry compliance summaries note the earlier upper limit was 66 GHz.
- Radio astronomy protection. Fixed point-to-point links must avoid 58.2 to 59 GHz and 64 to 65 GHz within the nominated distance of specified radio astronomy sites.
- WiFi in 6 GHz now reaches 6585 MHz. Indoor WiFi can use 5925 to 6585 MHz at up to 250 mW EIRP, and a very low power category of 25 mW EIRP has no indoor-only condition. We covered what that means in 6 GHz WiFi at Australian events.
- 24.25 to 25.1 GHz for private data networks. New items allow millimetre-wave mobile-style data networks on controlled premises, with limits on the signal measured at the building or premises boundary. This is aimed at large venues and industrial sites rather than one-day events.
Why 60 GHz suits short links at events
Most temporary sites have the same problem: the internet connection arrives in one building, and the people who need it are somewhere else. A registration tent in the car park, a marquee on the lawn, a site office at the gate or a second venue building across a service road.
The 60 GHz band has properties that suit those short hops:
- Oxygen absorption limits range. According to ITU-R Report F.2107, gaseous absorption around 60 GHz adds roughly 10 to 15 dB per kilometre outdoors. That sounds like a drawback, but it means a link fades out quickly beyond its target and many links can sit side by side without interfering.
- Very narrow beams. High-gain antennas at these frequencies produce tight beams, so a link is far less exposed to the crowded 2.4 and 5 GHz airspace at a busy event.
- Wide channels. The amount of spectrum available allows high-capacity links suited to short-haul use, which the ITU report describes as the natural application of these bands.
Typical uses at events and temporary sites include feeding access points in a marquee from the main building, linking a gatehouse or site office on a construction project, carrying CCTV from a remote corner of a site, and joining two venue buildings where trenching or overhead cable is not allowed. For WiFi coverage at the far end, see outdoor access point hire.
Limits to plan around
- Line of sight is not optional. The path between the two radios must be clear. Trucks, stages, marquees, crowds and even a forklift parked in the wrong place can block it. Check the path as it will look on the day, not on an empty site.
- Rain. The ITU report notes that rain has the greatest impact on signals in the 60 to 95 GHz bands and lists outage in heavy rain as a disadvantage. Keeping links short builds margin, and a fallback path keeps the network up during a storm.
- Distance. The ITU report describes 60 GHz systems for communications in the range of about one kilometre. At events, links of tens to a few hundred metres are the comfortable zone.
- Mounting. Narrow beams are unforgiving. A radio on a swaying pole, a temporary fence or scaffolding that flexes in the wind can drift out of alignment. Use rigid mounts and secure cabling.
- Outdoor fixed links only. The point-to-point item in the class licence does not allow indoor use, and the equipment itself must meet the licence conditions. Use equipment supplied for the Australian market.
- Permissions. Mounting on heritage buildings, council poles or neighbouring property needs the owner's approval before the day.
60 GHz, 5 GHz or cable: a quick comparison
| Option | Best for | Strength | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper network cable | Runs up to 100 m | Simple and steady, carries PoE | Walkways, vehicles and weather need cable protection |
| Fibre | Longer runs between buildings | Long distance, no electrical interference | Needs a safe route and installation time |
| 5 GHz point-to-point | Longer hops, partial obstructions | Longer reach than 60 GHz | Shares crowded spectrum with event WiFi |
| 60 GHz point-to-point | Short hops with clear line of sight | High capacity, little interference | Rain fade, alignment, blocked paths |
| Separate 4G or 5G connection | Remote spots that need modest bandwidth | No link to build | Shared mobile capacity during crowds |
On many sites the right answer is a mix: temporary network cabling where it can run safely, a wireless link for the one gap it cannot cross, and a 4G or 5G router as an independent backup.
A planning checklist for a 60 GHz link
- Measure the path. Note the distance, the mounting height at each end and anything that will be built or parked in between during bump-in and the event itself.
- Confirm power at both ends. Most radios run on PoE, so plan a switch or injector and a protected power point. Our PoE switch hire covers this.
- Plan the fallback. A 5 GHz link or a separate mobile connection with automatic failover keeps payments, ticketing and CCTV running if heavy rain or a blocked path drops the main link. See backup internet.
- Keep networks separate. Carry guest, staff, payment and camera networks as separate VLANs over the link so a busy guest network cannot crowd out the others.
- Test under load before doors open. Run a sustained transfer across the link and watch signal levels while people and vehicles move around.
- Label and protect. Label both radios and their power so nobody unplugs them during pack-down of another area.
If you are not sure whether a link, cable or second connection suits your site, a site survey answers it quickly. Send a site plan or a few photos of the path through our contact page and our Sydney team will recommend an approach.
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence to use a 60 GHz link in Australia?
Not an individual licence. Data links from 57 to 71 GHz are covered by the ACMA's LIPD class licence, provided the equipment meets its conditions. Fixed point-to-point links in that range must not be used indoors.
How far can a 60 GHz link reach at an event?
The ITU describes 60 GHz systems for distances of around one kilometre, but at events links of tens to a few hundred metres are more reliable because they keep margin for rain and movement.
Does rain stop a 60 GHz link?
Heavy rain can cause outages in the 60 GHz band. Short links have more margin, and a backup path such as a 5 GHz link or a separate mobile connection keeps critical services running.
Can a 60 GHz link replace event WiFi?
No. A 60 GHz link joins two points, such as a building and a marquee. WiFi access points at the far end still provide coverage for phones, laptops and payment terminals.
Sources
- Federal Register of Legislation — Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2025
- ACMA — Outcomes paper: Remaking the LIPD class licence (September 2025)
- ITU-R Report F.2107 — Characteristics and applications of fixed wireless systems operating in the 57 GHz to 95 GHz band
- IB-Lenhardt — New low-interference devices regulation (Australia)
Event dates, prices and product details can change. Check the organiser or manufacturer before you plan around them. Planning figures are starting points; every network is confirmed against the actual site.