Conroy’s underpants auction raises $2bn – mostly from Telstra – in spectrum sell-off

Tim Burrowes

May 7, 2013 10:15

The government’s spectrum auction to telcos has raised just under $2bn for the government, less than market expectations.

Telstra snapped up the most expensive spectrum – suggesting it is likely to extend its dominance in the market offering 4G and 3G mobile services.

Optus bought more than half a billion dollars of spectrum according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority announcement.

TPG Internet spent a relatively modest $13m and Vodafone withdrew from the auction, suggesting its poor network reputation is unlikely to see much relief.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.