Optus buys more radio spectrum for mobile broadband

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Renai LeMay05 February 2010, 1:48 PM

Optus has announced it has bought up all the remaining 2100MHz mobile spectrum to give its 3G/HSPA mobile services in metro areas a speed boost.


The nation’s second-largest telco Optus has agreed to buy additional spectrum licences for 10MHz of paired spectrum in the 2100MHz band from Qualcomm subsidiary 3G Investments.

In a statement issued today, Optus managing director of products and delivery Andrew Buay said the telco would use the additional 3G spectrum to “support retail and wholesale customer demand” for Optus’ range of data services. The deal is subject to approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board and the national competition regulator.

Above: one of the key selling points for the iPhone 3GS was faster data services, but Optus, which has been particularly aggressive in securing the majority of Australian iPhone buyers, has faced continual criticism for its underperforming 3G network.

Buay said there was an “explosive growth” in demand for mobile data services — in the 12 months to September 2009, the number of Optus 3G services increased 43 per cent from 2.16 million to 3.08 million, including Optus mobile broadband customers, whose numbers jumped more than 240 per cent to 688,000.

Buay said the purchase exhausted all available 2100MHz spectrum on the secondary trading market that supported the expansion of mobile broadband services.

Hence, he said, it was important that the Federal Government finalise a number of decisions about spectrum:

  • The allocation of spectrum freed up by the switch to digital TV
  • The allocation of 2.5GHz spectrum for mobile services
  • Greater certainty regarding the cost and timing of the renewal of expiring 3G spectrum licences

Optus has been the subject of vigorous complaint from customers about poor mobile broadband speed and latency. Although it has made improvements in the last 18 months, it is still one of the most frequent complaints from customers.

Delimiter with additional reporting by Dan Warne.


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Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Sounds good. I know I've always had trouble with data when I visit Newcastle/Sydney.
Never have any real problems at home, but when I live in a town where Optus coverage is similar to ADSL, it's hardly surprising they aren't congested here :P

05 February 2010, 3:02 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

apt.pupil (Advanced member):

this better actually HELP optus bring competition Telstra's way.

currently for me to pay $0.26 for a 15 second call to an Australian mobile- i need to go to a business plan(the $0.26 is actually including the call connection fee. the bonus call rate is $0.12 for a 30 second call, billed per second). Although telstras $19 for a 1GB data pack is more generous too- but once again- that comes down to Business only services atm.

05 February 2010, 3:06 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Dan Warne (Administrator):

what plan is that, apt.pupil?

05 February 2010, 3:32 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

apt.pupil (Advanced member):

Quoting Dan Warne:
what plan is that, apt.pupil?

Why Thank you Dan, now its my turn to impress.

the plan is called the Business Mobile PLUS plan.
http://www.telstrabusiness.com/business/portal/online/site/productsservices/mobileplus.62003

in short- it is a flexible and scalable plan that gives you per second billing, a choice of a range of bonus options(including untimed calls to landlines) pooled monthly call creduts(as in if there are 6X$65/month plans there is a total included call amount for all the phones of $390. this makes it good if some use more, and some use less), free and untimed intra- account calls, either a discount off a Blackberry BIS/BES pack or lumped monthly data, one call rate for voice and video calls, as well as (evidently) cheaper call rates. Of course- if you go for a $65 Business Mobile Plus, you get $65 worth on included calls and SMS, but the tiered billing also means that 5 or more services on the one account get even further discounted call rates and connection fees.
If i had a link to the brochure- i would give you one, but the link above will take you to the Telstra Business portal with the Bus.Mob. PLUS plans





05 February 2010, 3:47 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (User):

About time too! The data connection on my phone drops out, without fail, everyday at peak hour (around 5-8pm). At least it's consistently poor performance. I plan to jump to Telstra with their much more affordable data rates, but if I really see improved performance, there may be no need.

05 February 2010, 4:23 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

apt.pupil (Advanced member):

omg. not again.

my post disappeared for a fourth time.

have a look here Dan for the infos
http://www.telstrabusiness.com/business/portal/online/site/productsservices/mobileplus.62003
i am not typing it all up anymore. that is odd, cos it was up last time for at least 15 minutes

05 February 2010, 4:30 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Dan Warne (Administrator):

Sorry apt.pupil, your comments got kicked into the moderation queue for some reason. Anyway the original comment is live now. Thanks for the info, very interesting.

05 February 2010, 4:40 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

apt.pupil (Advanced member):

Quoting Dan Warne:
your comments got kicked into the moderation queue for some reason

Thats been happening to me a lot lately.
oh well, glad to be of service.



05 February 2010, 4:47 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

CCCMikey (User):

TPG, which uses Optus, works out at about 8 cents a minute when you do the maths. I don't know anyone cheaper than that :)

05 February 2010, 9:43 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Dan Warne (Administrator):

yeah, but you have to deal with TPG's call centre...! I've never really had a good experience with network resellers. If there's any kind of billing or technical problem they're inevitably powerless to do something and have to submit an enquiry to their network provider..

05 February 2010, 11:24 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

apt.pupil (Advanced member):

Quoting Dan Warne:
yeah, but you have to deal with TPG's call centre...! I've never really had a good experience with network resellers. If there's any kind of billing or technical problem they're inevitably powerless to do something and have to submit an enquiry to their network provider..


I have a narky little story about TPG too...
My little brother is on a plan(signed by my mother), and his phone got stolen from him at school. My mum went to Optus, and requested a sim replacement, to get told by Optus that they could not, since TPG distribute their own sim cards. There are no TPG shops in South Side(of brisbane) anymore, so TPG was going to mail mum out a sim replacement for my brother- at a charge of $30. When she told me about that- i went right off the richter. Nobody should have to pay $30 to replace a stolen sim card. I know that with us replacing Telstra sim cards, it is free if its an upgrade to the Next G network, faulty or stolen. My mum had to wait 10 business days for the sim card, AND pay an extra $30 on her bill for the sim replacement. If she didn't still have 15 months left on her contract, i would have told her to move to another provider(she doesn't like Telstra very much- but puts up with them, since they are the only ones in our area to provide somewhat decent internet- for Australia)


06 February 2010, 9:57 AM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting apt.pupil:
Nobody should have to pay $30 to replace a stolen sim card.

Yeah right it's the providers responsibility to wear all costs tor consumers stupidity.


Quoting apt.pupil:
i went right off the richter

classic over-reaction.



Quoting apt.pupil:
replacing Telstra sim cards, it is free if its an upgrade to the Next G network

Hardly the same thing, but hey you go a head and run your unpaid distorted infomercial.



Quoting apt.pupil:
If she didn't still have 15 months left on her contract, i would have told her to move to another provider

Ah that 21 years of wisdom again, cos as we all know mums never had any life experience?


Quoting apt.pupil:
she doesn't like Telstra very much

Neither does Australia!


Quoting apt.pupil:
but puts up with them, since they are the only ones in our area


more correctly the ones that have used their advantage and manipulation to ensure they are the only ones in your area.


08 February 2010, 11:22 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tim01 (New user):

"metro areas". Did he go into any specific locations? Or is safe to assume metro areas cover most large cities within Aus?

08 February 2010, 2:24 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Think the major capitals... Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and if you're lucky, Adelaide and Perth. And within those, probably CBD and similar massive commercial areas.

08 February 2010, 8:43 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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