Optus to acquire Qualcomm’s 3G spectrum (Australia)

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In order to have more capacity to meet strong demand for data services, further third generation mobile spectrum will be bought by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. unit Optus from Qualcomm Inc.
Licenses of 10 MHz of paired spectrum will be acquired by Optus under the deals which in turn will double its 2100 MHz paired spectrum holdings in Australian capital cities to 20 MHz from 10 MHz.

The new 3G spectrum will be used to support retail and wholesale customer demand for Optus’ increasing range of data services. The deal is subject to approval from Australia’s Foreign Investments Review Board and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

According to Andrew Buay, managing director of Optus Products and Delivery, it is very important that Government finalize three major spectrum policy decisions which will shape the future of the mobile industry in Australia, that is the allocation of the digital dividend for mobile broadband services; the allocation of 2.5 GHz spectrum for mobile broadband services; and greater certainty regarding the cost and timing of the renewal of expiring 3G spectrum licenses