ACA Kick Starts 3G Auction

Australian Communications Authority kick starts 3G license auctions, allowing bidders to make bids at 95% of their eligibility from 70% eligibility through round 10 of auction. Eligibility of each bidder is fixed amount based on points system decided before auction began. Rounds 9 and 10 attracted no bids, forcing ACA to stimulate bidding process. Auction will finish when there are no bidders and no waivers in any session. The ACA received waivers in rounds 9 and 10. Total bids so far A$1.08 billion after 12 rounds.

- After 12 rounds of bidding, the total of the high bids stands at $1,077,995,000
- Of the 58 lots on offer in the auction, 39 have so far attracted bids;
- Of the 6 bidders registered for the auction, 6 remain in the auction for round 13;
- At the end of round 12, the total of high bids held by each bidder is summarised in the table below:

($AUS)

3G Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd - 159,000,000
CKW Wireless Pty Ltd - nil
Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd - 203,520,000
Optus Mobile Pty Ltd - 249,425,000
Telstra 3G Spectrum Holdings Pty Ltd - 213,250,000
Vodafone Pacific Limited - 252,800,000

Total: 1,077,995,000