WISPAU at Comms Connect 2026 in Melbourne
WISPAU members attended the Comms Connect 2026 in Melbourne.
WISPAU president, Adrian Robertson presented at the event an update on the Automatic Frequency Coordination (or AFC) trials ongoing in Australia.
AFC trials in different areas of Australia have been indicating that PtMP radios can co-exist without interference to incumbents and deliver faster, more stable speeds to remote and regional Australia.
WISPAU also presented on the SOCI Act as well as the new draft TCP Standard requirements for WISPs and how WISPAU is assisting the challenges to WISPs the new regulations impose.
WISPAU members had the opportunity in Melbourne to discuss with the ACMA directly the concerns and issues with the draft Standard, with examples and alternate ways to deliver consumer protections but in a way that allows small to medium WISPs in remote and regional areas still be compliant.
WISPAU Members attend Comms Connect 2026
This year was the first year WISPAU organised members to attend the event and meet with vendors directly.
The event gave the opportunity for members to discuss and meet directly with vendors such as TP-Link Omada, Mimosa, Airspan, Ceragon, Tarana, Aviat, Valen Power, Open Spectrum, Sprectrum Engineering, Duxtel and Streakwave.
A special shout out to –
- TP-Link Omada for the Lunch event and Fusion update
- Mimosa and Duxtel for Dinner and updates on the A6Ghz Platform
- Airspan for Breakfast and updates on the recent acquisition and future of products from Cambium Networks
WISPAU members that attended stated the event was well worth going to, and were keen to attend future events. WISPAU will work with the Comms Connect event organisers to deliver even more in 2027.
Vendors provided exciting information for products in development, which assisted members in decision making, and also raised excitement for the future of the WISP industry in Australia going forward in the next few years.
AFC Trial Update
WISPAU president, Adrian Robertson, updated the Comms Connect audience with how AFC trials are going and recent developments at RadComms 2026. New trials underway with Mimosa and Tarana are also indicating that the technology will deliver faster speeds to customers, whilst utilising unused spectrum in 6Ghz, with no effect to incumbent licensed links.
Compliance for WISPs to SOCI Act and Telecommunications Legislation
WISPAU also presented information on the new draft Telecommunications Consumer Protection Standard released by the ACMA.
WISPAU’s focus over the past two years has been helping members meet, and where possible exceed, community and regulatory expectations. Small providers rarely have a compliance team (or the time to develop training and documentation), so we provide shared tools that make doing the right thing easier.
Our concerns with the new draft standard are not necessarily about the protections themselves. They are about how some obligations are triggered and delivered, which in places seems to assume a national mobile provider rather than a regional or remote small WISP business operator in the community they serve. This can leave a WISP who is achieving great customer service to the consumers in the region they are operating – non-compliant with the ACMA.
This is why WISPAU will continue to discuss with the ACMA and work with other organisations on delivering a set of standards for improving consumer protections but at the same time allowing WISPs to achieve compliance based on the realistic business settings that they face.
WISPAU continues to advocate for Wireless Industry
WISPAU’s support extends beyond advocacy — we provide templates, training materials, and online resources to help members meet their obligations efficiently.
We have regular online meetings where members can share information and collaborate constructively.
Our goal is not just compliance for compliance’s sake, but a culture of professionalism that builds trust with regulators, vendors, customers, and partners alike with the WISP industry
Australia’s digital future depends on diversity, inclusion, and resilience in its telecommunications ecosystem.
WISPs are a vital part of that story — and WISPAU is here to make sure that story continues to grow.
For a full copy of the presentation and speech, please click here.
