MELBOURNE, Australia-Telstra has paid $3.7 million for the remaining spectrum licenses in the 800 MHz band after AAPT withdrew from the Australian auction of new spectrum currently under way. The licenses, mainly in regional and remote areas, were sold in two lots each for $1.8 million at the reserve price set by the Australian Communications Authority.
Telstra has puchased licenses in Canberra and Darwin; a number of major regional centers including Albury, Dubbo, Grafton, Cairns, Mackay and Maryborough; regional areas of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia; and remote areas of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
The 800 MHz band is suitable for the delivery of third-generation (3G) communications systems. Telstra and AAPT were the only participants in the auction.
The spectrum is viewed as an opportunity for Telstra to augment its existing service capacity and to introduce new mobile services, as well as 3G offerings, to regional and remote areas of the country. Most of the 800 MHz spectrum was auctioned in 1998.
