AMTA CEO Louise Hyland Champions Affordable Spectrum at Comms Connect 2025

21 October, 2025: AMTA CEO Louise Hyland addressed industry leaders at Comms Connect 2025 in Melbourne on 16 October, delivering a compelling speech on the critical role of mobile telecommunications in shaping Australia’s digital future.

Hyland emphasised that affordable access to spectrum is essential to support the growing demand for mobile data and enable transformative technologies like AI across sectors such as healthcare, construction, and emergency services. She warned that high spectrum costs could lead to increased consumer prices and stalled infrastructure investment, particularly with spectrum licences due for renewal between 2028 and 2032.

Highlighting three key opportunities for industry sustainability, Hyland called for:

1. Affordable, high-quality spectrum to meet consumer demand.
2. Regulatory reform to reduce the burden of over 500 legislative requirements.
3. Planning harmonisation across federal, state, and local governments to streamline mobile infrastructure deployment.

Hyland also addressed recent Triple Zero incidents, reaffirming the industry’s commitment to network resilience and emergency response coordination. She urged continued collaboration with government to ensure Australians can rely on mobile networks when it matters most.

AMTA’s advocacy includes pushing for access to upper 6 GHz spectrum in urban areas and 600 MHz spectrum in regional zones, as well as legislative reform to recognise mobile infrastructure as critical.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Australia’s digital future relies on access to affordable spectrum,” Hyland concluded, encouraging stakeholders to support AMTA’s mission to keep Australia connected.

Read the full speech here.