Optus first to acquire new 2100 MHz spectrum licences

Optus announced this week that it is the first mobile network operator to successfully acquire new regional spectrum licences in a combination of 10 megahertz and 5 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 2100 MHz band at almost 1000 sites across regional Australia.

This new spectrum will enable Optus to strengthen its presence and capability in regional Australia, significantly increasing capacity to existing mobile sites. Areas that will benefit first from the spectrum acquisition include Bendigo in Victoria; Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Townsville in Queensland; Tamworth, Wagga Wagga and Port Macquarie in New South Wales.

Andrew Buay, Managing Director, Optus Products and Delivery, said, “This is a fantastic result which enables Optus to continue to support the growing demand from our retail and business customers in regional Australia for mobile broadband and mobile data.

“Optus has traditionally been one of the most efficient users of spectrum and we plan to maximise this additional spectrum to support the future growth of 3G mobile services.

“The release of this regional spectrum, in advance of expected new spectrum allocations in the 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz bands in the coming years, will help us to continue to transform the playing field in the regional communications market. As well as strengthening Optus’s position to challenge the incumbent by improving capacity and coverage in previously under-serviced areas," said Buay.

A recent report on the future of mobile broadband services found that by 2020 there will be almost 20 million mobile broadband subscriptions on handsets in Australia, together with another 6.3 million datacards, under a moderate growth scenario.

Optus now awaits the government’s release of a comprehensive new spectrum policy road map covering all details of the expected allocations in the 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz bands to provide the certainty required for investment in and planning for next-generation mobile services.