Allocation limits have now been set for Australia’s planned auction of 5G-suitable spectrum in the 26GHz band, which is scheduled to take place in March 2021.
Announcing the development, communications minister Paul Fletcher confirmed that he had directed the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to implement a cap of 1GHz on the amount of spectrum any one entity can obtain in the sale process.
This direction was made via the ‘Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Limits–26GHz Band) Direction 2020’, dated 9 August 2020, and commenting on the matter, Mr Fletcher said: ‘I have directed the [ACMA] to set allocation limits of 1GHz. This decision was informed by advice and analysis from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and aligns with the government’s communications policy objectives.Success in the mobile market ultimately depends on access to spectrum. Applying allocation limits means that the 26GHz spectrum cannot be monopolised by any one operator.’