Spectrum auction

ACMA's latest auction sees 5 companies take out the spectrum licences.

Five companies have won spectrum in the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s latest spectrum auction in the 26 GHz band. The 26 GHz band has been identified as optimal for the delivery of 5G wireless broadband services. Of the 360 lots available in the auction, 358 were sold.

The auction was conducted over 2 stages. In the primary stage of the auction, Dense Air Australia successfully bid two lots, Mobile JV bid won 86 lots, Optus Mobile won 116 lots, Pentanet 4 lots and Telstra Corporation won 150 lots.

The assignment stage of the auction allocated specific frequency ranges to the spectrum won in the primary stage. Mobile JV, a TPG Telecom subsidiary, Optus and Telstra took the major shares for metropolitan areas and regionals; while Dense Air bid for bands in the major regions and Pentanet for Perth and Margaret River.

Licences won at auction will come into force later this year, for a 15-year term ending in 2036.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Николай Батаев