REG - Telstra Corp. Ld - Telstra secures maximum possible low band spectrum

TelstraAnnouncement

08/12/2021 07:00

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RNS Number : 9007U  Telstra Corporation Ld  08 December 2021

 

 

 8 December 2021

                  Office of the Company Secretary

                  Level 41

242 Exhibition Street

MELBOURNE VIC 3000

AUSTRALIA
 The Manager

                General Enquiries    03 8647 4838

                Facsimile 03 9650 0989
 RNS

                  companysecretary@team.telstra.com (mailto:companysecretary@team.telstra.com)

                  Investor Relations

                  Tel:  1800 880 679

                  investor.relations@team.telstra.com

 

ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT

 

 

Dear Sir or Madam

 In accordance with the Listing Rules, I attach a market release for release
to the market.

 Authorised for lodgement by:

 

 

 Sue Laver

Company Secretary

 

 

Telstra secures maximum possible low band spectrum to maintain its leading
mobile network

 

Wednesday 8 December 2021 - Telstra has invested $616 million to secure
2x10MHz in the Australian Communications and Media Authority's 850/900 MHz
band auction. This is the maximum amount of 'low band' spectrum Telstra was
allowed to bid for under the competition limits set by the Government. This is
a win for Telstra customers, especially for the people, businesses and
communities of regional and rural Australia.

 

Vicki Brady, Chief Financial Officer and Group Executive, Strategy &
Finance, said securing this spectrum was strategically important for Telstra
and its commitment to providing its customers the best mobile network across
the country.

 

"With the 2x10MHz of 850MHz spectrum we've secured in this auction, added to
our existing spectrum holdings, we now hold 2x40MHz of low-band spectrum in
the major cities and 2x45MHz in regional and remote areas. This is more than
any other carrier, which is important given our larger customer base, and will
help us continue to provide the best mobile coverage and service," said Ms
Brady.

 

"Mobile and wireless broadband are key components of a successful digital
economy, and this low band spectrum will help us support Australia's digital
economy ambitions which is critical to our nation's pandemic recovery. The
spectrum is essential for carrying mobile data, particularly 5G, over the vast
distances needed across regional and remote areas and also enables us to
provide better coverage indoors and other difficult to reach places in metro
locations.

 

"This outcome helps to ensure we continue to meet the growing demand of our
customers across the country, and especially in regional areas. Our current
850MHz spectrum licence has played an important role in our 5G rollout which
now extends to more than 4,000 sites across the country, reaching 75% of the
population. This new spectrum will help us meet the commitment in our T25
strategy to provide 5G coverage to 95% of the population by 2025.

 

"Over the seven years to end FY22, we will have invested $11 billion in our
mobile network nationally with $4 billion of this invested in our regional
mobile network. Because of this our mobile network now covers one million
square kilometres more than any other telco - that's the size of New South
Wales and Victoria combined."

 

Ms Brady said Telstra would keep investing to ensure it maintained its leading
mobile coverage and helped regional and remote communities fully participate
in the digital economy.

 

"This is especially important as our nation rapidly digitises, as migration to
regional areas continues at pace, and as billions of devices, like water
sensors, home and business security cameras, and smart meters are generating
data like never before," said Ms Brady.

 

"All of these factors have increased demand on our network in regional
Australia nearly threefold in the past three years. We will continue investing
and this includes boosting regional connectivity with at least another 100,000
square kilometres of new mobile coverage as part of T25."

 

Payment for the 20-year licences is not expected until shortly before they
commence in mid-2024.

- ends -

 

Media contact: Steve Carey

M: +61 (0) 413 988 640

E: media@team.telstra.com (mailto:media@team.telstra.com)

 

Investor contact: Nathan Burley

M: +61 (0) 457 529 334

E: investor.relations@team.telstra.com
(mailto:investor.relations@team.telstra.com)

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