Gosh 4G spectrum is cheap in New Zealand maybe we should buy some and import it!
With the conclusion of the 700 MHz 4G spectrum auction in NZ in October resulting in Telecom NZ and Vodafone each picking up 2X15MHz – the maximum allowed under the auction rules. They each paid $NZ66 ($A57.6). This was the reserve price. Third NZ operator 2 Degrees picked up 2X10MHz also at the reserve price $NZ44 million and 2X5Mhz remained unsold.
The band APT700 3GPP Band 28 is the same as will be used in Australia and elsewhere in Asia Pacific. The same 700 MHz spectrum was auctioned in Australia in May 2013 and also sold at the government set reserve price. The difference was that then Australian Labor Government needed the cash and set a reserve price of $A311 million per 2X5MHz lot compared to $NZ22 million ($A18.1) in New Zealand. Well OK there are only 4.4 million people in NZ compared to 22.7 million in Oz but that still makes the spectrum price in NZ 30% of the Australian price on a per head of population basis.