Leading or lagging: The real cost of spectrum for regional Australia

24 February 2025: Today at the CommsDay Regional & Policy Forum in Canberra, AMTA CEO, Louise Hyland, addressed, what she believes, is the most significant policy decision facing our sector: the pricing of expiring mobile spectrum licences.

Mobile connectivity is no longer optional — it is vital infrastructure. And for regional Australia, spectrum pricing will directly influence where investment occurs, how quickly networks are upgraded, and how resilient services are in emergencies.

While the decision to renew licences rather than auction them provides certainty, the proposed 40 per cent increase in pricing presents real challenges. Mobile operators work within finite capital envelopes. Every additional dollar directed to spectrum competes with regional upgrades, resilience measures, 5G expansion and future capability.

The statutory objective is to maximise the long-term public interest. In our view, that means designing a price which encourages sustained and sustainable investment — particularly in regional Australia.

The decisions made now will shape connectivity outcomes for the next decade and beyond. 

Read the full speech here here