ACMA TV Spectrum Sell-off - Digital Dividend Auction, Nearly $2 billion

[mtv]

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) has announced the outcomes from the digital dividend spectrum auction, which concluded this morning.
All three bidders—Optus Mobile, Telstra and TPG Internet—secured spectrum in the auction, resulting in total revenues of nearly $2 billion.
Four companies initially applied to participate in the auction. However, Vodafone Hutchison Australia withdrew before the auction, which started on 23 April 2013.



Telstra was the biggest bidder (no surprises there).

Full breakdown of what spectrum went where and for how much,

[gordon_s1942]

I read the frequency sold was from 703 to 803 Mhz which is currently in Band V (TV channels 40? to 69) which will be 'Retuned' over the next 18 months down to Band 1V so I was wondering what they have in mind to reuse that block of Frequencies for?

[mtv]

I read the frequency sold was from 703 to 803 Mhz which is currently in Band V (TV channels 40? to 69) which will be 'Retuned' over the next 18 months down to Band 1V so I was wondering what they have in mind to reuse that block of Frequencies for?

The TV spectrum being sold off is channels 52 - 69.

After the restack is complete all digital television services will operate in the remaining UHF broadcasting spectrum of 520-694 MHz and VHF broadcasting spectrum of 174-230 MHz

.

UHF channels (mostly regional area main TX and other translators) will use both Band 4 and Band 5, but Band 5 will only go up to channel 51 post restack.

Post restack, channels will be in blocks of six consecutive numbered channels (the sixth is presently unallocated but may possibly be for community channels)

The Australian Band 5 is (currently) channels 36 - 69 and post restack it will be channels 36 - 51.

Eg: Orange/Central Tablelands (Mt Canobolas) currently transmits channels 36, 37, 40, 42 and 43.

Post restack, the channels from Mt Canobolas will be 'Block C' which is 34 -39, so you will have a mix of the top end of Band 4 and the lower end of Band 5.

Channel 34 is the unallocated channel at this time, so the existing channels will actually be on channels 35 - 39.

Hope this makes sense.

[gordon_s1942]

It does, I just wondered what that block of frequencies will be used for once they clear the TV channels from it.

[mtv]

It does, I just wondered what that block of frequencies will be used for once they clear the TV channels from it.

Mobile phones/data, broadband, LTE.

[beerman]

Make no mistake. This digital dividend spectrum sale was simply another Government privatisation. I believe they would have thought this the best kind of privatisation as it is not seen, felt, understood or even tasted by the general public so they could sell a public asset without the public knowing. Super scam.