Optus Acquires Vividwireless To Up 4G Capbilities

• Accelerating 4G roll out
• Better download speeds
• Build two LTE-TDD testing facilities

Optus claims its latest acquisition will give it the highest capacity 4G network in Australia. The telco has acquired Vividwireless Group from Seven Group Holdings (SGH) in preparation for a major national LTE-TDD network rollout in 2013.

Optus will build two LTE-TDD testing facilities in St Marys in Western Sydney and at the Optus Campus in Macquarie Park.

Having gained access to up to 98MHz of spectrum in the 2.3GHz band across key population areas, Optus claims it will soon have the highest capacity 4G network in Australia offering customers a fast and consistent 4G experience.

The new network will deliver a series of benefits to Optus customers across Australia including:

• Faster mobile broadband to households and businesses in metropolitan Australia with typical download speeds ranging from 25Mbps to 87Mbps1.
• Stronger network performance and customer experience with what is claimed to be Australia’s highest capacity 4G network in metropolitan areas.
• Enhancement to Optus’ existing 4G network, which was launched in Newcastle and the Hunter region of New South Wales in April 2012 and will be expanded to capital cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Perth by middle of the year.
• Accelerated roll out – roll out will be fast tracked following the recent extended joint venture agreement with Vodafone.

Optus has received ACCC and FIRB approval for the acquisition and has been advised by the ACMA of its willingness to reissue key Vividwireless licences in accordance with the Radiocommunications (Spectrum Access Charges) Direction 2012.