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- Release Date: 04/09/13 19:00
- Summary: GENERAL: TEL: Telecom welcomes Government's 700MHz radio spectrum auction
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TEL
04/09/2013 17:00
GENERAL
REL: 1700 HRS Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited
GENERAL: TEL: Telecom welcomes Government's 700MHz radio spectrum auction
STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
4 September 2013
Telecom welcomes Government's 700 MHz radio spectrum auction details
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Amy Adams announced
today the timing, reserve price and some implementation conditions for the
auction of New Zealand's 700MHz "digital dividend" spectrum.
The auction is scheduled to start on 29 October 2013. This date will be
confirmed after completion of the bidder registration process. The reserve
price for each of the nine lots of 2x5MHz paired spectrum has been set at
NZ$22million.
Telecom welcomes the allocation of this spectrum and intends to be a bidder
in the forthcoming auction. Telecom also welcomes the Government's
acknowledgement of the significant investment required by mobile network
operators to build the 4G LTE infrastructure required to utilise this
spectrum.
The 700MHz band is an important resource if New Zealand is to make the most
of 4G LTE technology, which will deliver significant benefits to New
Zealanders in the shape of faster mobile broadband speeds and significant
long-term economic benefit to the country. In particular, Telecom's ongoing
and historically strong commitment to rural New Zealand will be strengthened
through the use of the 700 MHz spectrum, as it enables better economics of
coverage in less populous areas.
Although management rights for the spectrum will begin on 1 January 2014,
deployment of this spectrum into Telecom's 4G LTE network will depend on
700MHz handset availability from global handset manufacturers. Current
indications are that suitable devices will start becoming available in mid to
late calendar 2014 at the earliest.
The Government's announcement can be found at the following link:
http://beehive.govt.nz/release/radio-spectrum-auction-details-announced
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End CA:00240704 For:TEL Type:GENERAL Time:2013-09-04 17:00:20
