AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said the maximum value of the digital dividend would be achieved when the full 126 MHz was used to deliver mobile telephony and broadband services in Australia.

As the closing date for submissions on the Government’s Digital Dividend Green Paper passes AMTA said the mobile industry in Australia was ready to further invest in advanced mobile broadband technologies.

However, it is now imperative that the Government’s process keep moving toward announcing a clear timetable for clearance, auction and restacking to achieve the target digital dividend of 126 MHz.

Mr Althaus said: “This is essential to ensure that digital dividend spectrum is commercially available to mobile operators as soon as analog switch-off is complete,” he said.

“Australian mobile operators' current spectrum holdings will provide adequate capacity to meet demand in the short term. But to ensure future consumer demand for new mobile broadband services can be met in an efficient and affordable manner, access to spectrum in the UHF band, together with access to new spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band, is critical.

“An efficient, fair and well-balanced allocation of the UHF band between the mobile telecommunications and broadcasting industries will ensure Australia enjoys the full economic and social benefits from the digital dividend.”

AMTA commissioned independent research by Spectrum Value Partners to examine the potential economic value of the Digital Dividend in a range of scenarios and identify an optimal split between mobile broadband and broadcasting use where economic value was maximised.

Nationally, the optimal net economic benefit to Australia will be realised if at least 120 MHz of usable UHF spectrum is allocated to mobile broadband services. In rural areas, the maximum benefit would be realised with an allocation of 140 MHz of usable spectrum.

Australia’s economy will be boosted by up to $10 billion if at least 120 MHz of usable spectrum is unlocked from the digital dividend.