Australia
The Australian Communications Authority said it will complete its PCS auction of 800 MHz and 1.8 MHz spectrum, with the final 800 MHz lot covering Central Australia to be brought to auction for the third time. No time frame has been given, though the government last year said it would not be auctioned before 2000. “The lot was passed in at reserve when last offered for allocation on 25 September 1998,” said ACA Chairman Tony Shaw. “Since it was last offered, the ACA has become aware of a small number of potentially interested clients, and so it is appropriate to offer the lot once more.” The licence includes the towns of Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and the opal mining town of Coober Pedy. In addition, the ACA has released a list of future auctions. Spectrum earmarked for auction include 3.4 GHz for wireless local loop; 1.9-2.2 GHz for third-generation PCS; remaining 1.8 GHz, 26 GHz and 47 GHz for LMDS; and 800 MHz, 403-420 MHz and 170 MHz for trunked land mobile.
Japan
KDD WinStar, a joint venture between KDD and Sumitomo of Japan as well as WinStar Communications of the United States, received a license to operated fixed wireless services in several major metropolitan areas of Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka.
Taiwan
Taiwan has issued rules under which local and international firms can bid to operate fixed-line telephony services, a move that ends the government’s monopoly.
