Navigating Spectrum Licence Renewal: Lessons from Australia
Australia’s spectrum licence renewal process shows how operators can align regulatory engagement with commercial strategy. This case study highlights Coleago’s role in helping Optus secure optimal outcomes, from evidence-based submissions to spectrum planning for 5G and 6G.
For mobile operators, managing expiring spectrum licences (ESLs) is both a regulatory and commercial priority. Australia’s approach, led by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), offers a model of proactive and structured spectrum management. The ACMA began consultations in 2023, up to nine years before some licences expire, covering critical bands from 700 MHz to 3.4 GHz. This early engagement allowed a four-stage consultation process that balanced public interest, industry input, and regulatory certainty.
The process emphasised renewal rather than re-auction, providing operators with clarity while ensuring spectrum use aligns with public interest objectives. Stakeholders were invited to provide detailed evidence and feedback, including reply-to-comment submissions, fostering transparency and enabling well-informed regulatory decisions. Key topics included spectrum valuation, licence conditions, rollout obligations, and the practical implications of use-it-or-lose-it and use-it-or-share-it provisions.
Coleago Consulting supported Optus throughout the process, helping to define internal positions, prepare submissions, and deliver data-driven analyses. By valuing expiring licences and assessing strategic relevance for 5G Advanced and future 6G deployments, Coleago enabled Optus to make informed decisions on renewal priorities, band rationalisation, and potential spectrum trading.
This case study demonstrates the commercial advantage of early engagement, rigorous evidence-based advocacy, and a strategic approach to spectrum management. Operators that align business objectives with regulatory expectations can secure optimal outcomes and strengthen their long-term spectrum position.
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