Optus 4G Roll Out Starts In April

  • Acquires Vividwireless for its 4G spectrum
  • Conditions need to be met
  • Speeds of up to 87Mbps promised

Optus is said have acquired Vividwireless Group for $230 million, which will give the Telco access to up to 98MHz of spectrum in the 2.3GHz band, a band used to provide 4G services.

Optus plans to use this spectrum to build a new 4G network using LTE-TDD technology. This new network will deliver wireless broadband to households and businesses in metropolitan Australia with typical download speeds ranging from 25Mbps to 87Mbps.

It will be integrated with Optus’ 1800MHz 4G network, which will be launched in Newcastle and the Hunter region of New South Wales in April 2012.

The completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including the reissue of Vividwireless’ 2.3GHz spectrum licence and approval from the ACCC and FIRB. The acquisition will be funded from internal sources of funds and debt.