NBN secures more radio spectrum
The National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) has secured more radio spectrum frequencies at auction, which will be used for the delivery of its wireless broadband service.
The NBN Co paid just over $1.3 million for spectrum in Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, outback Queensland and far west NSW at an auction that was run by the Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA), giving the company all the geographic coverage it will need to roll out the wireless service.
The recent purchase compliments NBN Co’s recent acquisition of AUSTAR spectrum frequencies and will allow its wireless network to be completed by 2015.
The purchase is part of the retail wireless network that the NBN Co promises will allow for up to 12 Mbps at the wholesale level which will cover any part of Australia not serviced by its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) services.
“We are pleased with the outcome of today’s auction as it means we can provide high-speed wireless services to some of the most poorly served areas as a priority. We are on target to provide wireless broadband services up to five years earlier than some areas earmarked for fibre,” said NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley.
“We look forward to providing those who are to receive our fixed-wireless service with the benefits of the latest 4G fixed-wireless technology, called LTE or Long-Term Evolution.”
NBN Co started offering commercial satellite services to eligible customers who can’t access other forms of metro-comparable broadband on 1 July this year.