Optus acquires regional 3.6 GHz spectrum to strengthen its national 5G mobile network

Acquisition complements extensive 5G metropolitan spectrum holdings

Optus confirms it successfully acquired new regional licences for its customers in the 3.6 GHz spectrum band, earmarked for 5G telecommunications services, as announced by Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) today.

Optus won 47 regional lots for a total amount of $185.1 million across North and Central Queensland, South East Queensland/Northern NSW, regional Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania and Southern/Western NSW.

These new regional spectrum licences add to Optus’ existing large holdings of metropolitan 3.4 GHz spectrum and will enable Optus to offer 5G services to customers
across Australia.

Optus Networks Managing Director Dennis Wong said, “The additional spectrum positions Optus strongly to deliver 5G services in cities, regions and holiday locations. We are committed to commercially launching Fixed Wireless Access services early in 2019 and we can now extend these services to Regional Australia.”

“Optus continues to invest in our network where it matters most to people, where they live, work and play. Whether you live in the cities, regional centres or smaller remote towns, we are expanding our premium national mobile network and improving customer experience,” Mr Wong said.

Optus has delivered live trials and shared 5G proof of concepts in its network and in test environments including a world class 5G Live! showcase during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games which featured 8K video streaming on-the-go on Optus’s live 5G trial indoor and outdoor network, in which speeds of 16Gbps were achieved.

Note to editors:

Optus has extensive holdings of spectrum in the 5G band in metropolitan areas and as a result was excluded from the metropolitan spectrum auction due to bid limits imposed by the Federal Government.

Optus 5G Spectrum Assets

Spectrum Band

Holdings

Term of licence

Expiry

3400 MHz

(Existing metropolitan spectrum)

100 MHz in Sydney and Melbourne; 72 MHz in Adelaide; 67.5 MHz in Brisbane; 65MHz in Perth and Canberra.

15 years

December 2030

3600 MHz

(New regional spectrum)

35 MHz in North QLD, Central QLD, Sth East QLD/Nth NSW (incl Gold Coast), regional Victoria, Tasmania; 30MHz in regional SA and regional Southern/Western NSW

Licence start from March 2020

(access to some areas may not be available until 2025)

December 2030

Media enquiries:
Steve Batten
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850
media@optus.com.au