The NBN project is a major component of Australia’s digital economy in close partnership with the latest generation mobile telecommunications networks and applications, AMTA Chief Executive, Chris Althaus, told the Federal Government’s “Realising our Broadband Future” Conference in Sydney this week.
Opened by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the Conference canvassed ideas and avenues on how Australia would maximise the benefits of the National Broadband Network.
Mr Althaus presented at the Smart Infrastructure stream of the two-day conference.
“Given the complementary relationship of mobile and fixed broadband services and the central role both will play in Australia’s digital economy, it is essential the NBN project take full account of the required future use and management of spectrum to support mobile broadband growth,” he said.
“Just as fibre to the home (FTTH) is the Government’s chosen infrastructure model to support the future of fixed broadband services in Australia, so the allocation of spectrum is the key infrastructure element to fully exploit the potential of mobile broadband.
“Future spectrum allocations are critical to realising the full potential of mobile telecommunications through the convergence of two of the most influential technological developments of the digital age - the mobile phone and the internet.”
Mr Althaus said although high-speed broadband was the centerpiece of Australia’s digital economy and the NBN was a dominant infrastructure project, mobile broadband would have a significant role to play in delivering all important productivity, connectivity and mobility opportunities to all Australians.
“As you know demand for Mobile Broadband services is growing strongly in Australia with new subscriptions increasing by over 100% in 08/09 with similar growth continuing in 09/10. AMTA’s expectation is that new subscriptions for Mobile Broadband services and the diversity of mobile broadband applications on offer will continue to grow significantly.
“Globally the GSM Association (GSMA) currently estimates more than 9 million new Mobile Broadband subscribers are being added to operator networks per month. While Ovum forecasts over 1000% increase in global Mobile Broadband subscribers between 2008 and 2014.”
Mr Althaus said the mobile sector’s significant and growing contribution to productivity and connectivity within theAustralian economy - and therefore Australia’s overall participation in the global digital economy - will only be maximised if sufficient and appropriate radiofrequency spectrum is made available to the industry.
To that end, the industry is seeking three enabling actions from the Government:
- certainty and a timely process in relation to the re-issue of spectrum licences for the spectrum held by incumbent mobile carriers;
- access to additional spectrum, in the 700MHz (the ‘digital dividend’) and 2.5GHz bands, to support the ongoing rapid growth of mobile broadband services and the roll-out of next generation mobile broadband services such as Long Term Evolution (LTE); and
- an ongoing stable, predictable and minimally intrusive regulatory regime. Mobile operators are ready to invest in the next generation of mobile networks. In order to make this major investment they are seeking certainty on the enabling actions that are required from Government in a reasonable timeframe.
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