The ACMA conducted the 850/900 MHz band auction in late 2021.
There were 2 winning bidders in the auction. The winning prices are below.
Find out more about the full background of the auction on our summary page.
|
Winning bidder |
Total number of lots won |
Winning price |
|---|---|---|
|
Optus Mobile Pty Ltd (Optus) |
12* |
$1,475,958,000 |
|
Telstra Limited (Telstra) |
4 |
$615,660,000 |
* This includes 2 lots of 2 x 1 MHz of downshift spectrum.
The posted price for the lots of each product in the final clock round are below.
|
Product name |
Posted price |
|---|---|
|
850 major population |
$261,787,000 |
|
850 regional |
$46,043,000 |
|
900 lower major population* |
$170,730,000 |
|
900 lower regional** |
$37,500,000 |
|
900 upper major population |
$261,787,000 |
|
900 upper regional |
$41,864,000 |
* The winner of the lot of spectrum in the 900 lower major population product is automatically allocated 2 x 1 MHz of downshift spectrum in the metropolitan area.
** The winner of the lot of spectrum in the 900 lower regional product is automatically allocated 2 x 1 MHz of downshift spectrum in the regional area.
The auction was held over one stage. The following generic lots of a product in each region were allocated to winning bidders in the primary stage.
|
Product name |
No of lots allocated |
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
Optus |
Telstra |
|
850 major population |
0 |
2 |
|
850 regional |
0 |
2 |
|
900 lower major population* |
1 |
0 |
|
900 lower regional** |
1 |
0 |
|
900 upper major population |
3 |
0 |
|
900 upper regional |
3 |
0 |
* The winner of the lot of spectrum in the 900 lower major population product is automatically allocated 2 x 1 MHz of downshift spectrum in the metropolitan area.
** The winner of the lot of spectrum in the 900 lower regional product is automatically allocated 2 x 1 MHz of downshift spectrum in the regional area.
Under the Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Allocation – 850/900 MHz Band) Determination 2021 and Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Limits – 850/900 MHz Band) Direction 2021, 2 x 5 MHz of spectrum in the 900 upper major population and 900 upper regional products were allocated to Optus Mobile Pty Ltd for a pre-determined price.
|
Product |
Set-aside price |
|---|---|
|
900 upper major population |
$327,803,000 |
|
900 upper regional |
$28,972,000 |
|
Total paid by Optus Mobile Pty Ltd for set-aside lots |
$356,775,000 |
The auction allocated specific frequency ranges to the spectrum won in the primary stage. The following frequency ranges have been assigned to lots for each winning bidder.
|
Product name |
Frequency assigned |
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
Telstra |
Optus |
|
850 major population |
814–824 MHz 859–869 MHz |
N/A |
|
850 regional |
814–824 MHz 859–869 MHz |
N/A |
| Downshift metropolitan | N/A |
824–825 MHz 869–870 MHz |
| Downshift regional | N/A |
824–825 MHz 869–870 MHz |
|
900 lower major population |
N/A |
890–895 MHz 935–940 MHz |
|
900 lower regional |
N/A |
890–895 MHz 935–940 MHz |
|
900 upper major population |
N/A |
895–915 MHz 940–960 MHz |
|
900 upper regional |
N/A |
895–915 MHz 940–960 MHz |
The total $/MHz/pop for each product at the end of the allocation is shown below.
|
Product name |
$/MHz/pop |
Total revenue |
Bandwidth (MHz) |
Population# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
850 major population |
1.15 |
$523,574,000 |
2 x 10 |
22,764,063 |
|
850 regional |
2.29 |
$92,086,000 |
2 x 10 |
2,011,962 |
|
900 lower major population |
0.75 |
$170,730,000 |
2 x 5 |
22,764,063 |
|
900 lower regional |
1.86 |
$37,500,000 |
2 x 5 |
2,011,962 |
|
900 upper major population* |
1.22 |
$1,113,164,000 |
2 x 20 |
22,764,063 |
|
900 upper regional* |
1.92 |
$154,564,000 |
2 x 20 |
2,011,962 |
* Calculation of these figures includes set-aside prices.
# The population data in this table is projected based on the population at the time of the 2016 Census. The ACMA has estimated the population of each HCIS cell by taking the figures of the 2016 Census and applying a ‘national population escalator’ to obtain an estimate for the population as at the end of the third quarter of 2021. This is based on ABS population growth data and projections in the 2021–22 Federal Budget.
The map below shows the major population (orange) and regional (blue) areas for the spectrum at 814–824 MHz paired with 859–869 MHz, and 890–915 MHz paired with 935–960 MHz.
The map below shows the metropolitan (green) and regional (yellow) areas for the downshift spectrum at 824–825 MHz and 869–870 MHz. This was allocated to the winner of the 900 lower products.
