The Federal Government to hold 5G spectrum auctions

The Morrison Government will hold two auctions to allocate 5G spectrum for 2021. 5G is forecasted to add up to $2,000 in gross domestic product per person after the first decade of the rollout.

The announcement:

The Morrison Government will hold two auctions to allocate 5G spectrum next year, making 2021 the ‘Year of 5G.’

In April 2021, the Government will allocate high band 5G spectrum (in the 26 GHz band), which will enable extremely fast, high-capacity services. In the second half of 2021, the Government will allocate low band 5G spectrum (in the 850/900 MHz band), which will be crucial for broader geographic coverage of 5G services.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the low and high band 5G spectrum will complement the mid band 5G spectrum that the Government has already auctioned.

“Low band spectrum can carry the 5G mobile signal longer distances, and is best for wide coverage indoors and outside. The mid band spectrum provides broad coverage and fast speeds and the high band spectrum will allow blazing fast speeds over shorter distances.”

“We are making the low, mid and high bands available so that the telcos can provide better, faster and stronger 5G in Australia,” Minister Fletcher said.

5G, the next generation of wireless mobile broadband, will deliver speeds significantly faster than 4G and at much lower latency. This is very important for things like smart farming, robotics, telemedicine and automated vehicles, which will increase Australia’s productivity. 5G is forecast to add up to $2,000 in gross domestic product per person after the first decade of the rollout.

“The sooner 5G is deployed, the sooner Australia can secure these benefits,” Minister Fletcher said.

Source: Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts media release