Digital dividend spectrum auction delayed to 2013

The Federal Government has delayed the digital dividend spectrum auction to April 2013.

The decision was based on advice given by the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA.

The highly coveted 700MHz band, which can be used for the rollout of 4G LTE networks, is part of the digital dividend spectrum group. These were previously used for analogue TV broadcast that have been freed up through Australia’s is gradual move to digital TV services.

The auction was initially scheduled to take place in November this year but the Government has decided to push the date back in order to “maximise product certainty for bidders”.

The Government also wants to give more time for new licensees to plan and deploy networks before their licences commence in January 2015.

“The Australian Government committed $143.2 million in the 2012-13 Budget to ensure that the spectrum is released in a timely fashion with minimal disruption for viewers," Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, said in a statement.

“My department is working with the ACMA and the broadcasting industry to implement the restack. The Government expects that this reorganisation of affected digital TV services will be completed by 31 December 2014.”