Frequencies[edit]

700 MHz[edit]

The 700 MHz band was previously used for analogue television and became operational with 4G in December 2014.

Optus[edit]

Optus announced trials of its 4G 700 MHz network in Darwin and Perth CBDs on July 21, 2014.^[13]
The 700mhz network was made active on January 1, 2015.^[14]

Telstra[edit]

In July 2014 Telstra announced a trial of 4G services in the 700 MHz spectrum in Perth, Fremantle, Esperance, Mildura, Mt Isa and Griffith.^[15] Service launched in November 2014.^[16]This band will be the basis for the '4GX' brand.

Vodafone[edit]

Vodafone acquired some residual spectrum on this band.^[17] Their license commences on 1 April 2018.^[18]

850 MHz[edit]

The 850 MHz band is currently operated as a 3G network by Telstra and as a 4G network by Vodafone.

Vodafone switched the 4G 850 network on in Adelaide on 6 October 2014.^[19] By the end of 2014 all other capital cities were switched over to 4G, and in Q2 2016 all regional sites were activated on 4G on this band.

1800 MHz[edit]

The 1800 MHz band is currently operated as a 2G and 4G network by Optus, Telstra and Vodafone.

Optus[edit]

Optus has now installed their 4G networks in all the capital cities and thousands of regional areas, and markets that they currently cover 86% of the Australian population with their 4G Plus Network^[20]

Telstra[edit]

Telstra was the first mobile phone network to operate 4G and 2G in the same band. Their 4G network covers capital cities and some regional areas.^[21]

Vodafone[edit]

The Vodafone 4G network was first live in selected metro areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, and the outer metro areas of Wollongong, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Geelong from June 12, 2013. The 1800 MHz network has since been expanded to include all capital cities and major outer metro areas, and a rollout has begun for some regional areas.

2300 MHz[edit]

Optus[edit]

Optus use 2300 MHz TD-LTE (Band 40) in big cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, plus selected metropolitan locations.^[22]
Optus first launched its TD-LTE network in Canberra on May 2013.^[23]

2600 MHz[edit]

Optus[edit]

Optus and Telstra trialled the 2600 MHz frequency in Australia.^[24][25] Service launched in October 2014.^[26]

Telstra[edit]

Telstra announced to use the frequency 2016 for commercial service.^[27]

TPG[edit]

TPG had initially surprised some by bidding in the auction as they had no infrastructure at the time. On the 30 September 2015 TPG signed a deal with Vodafone Australia to gain access to Vodafone base stations. In return TPG will provide Dark Fibre to vodafone towers and also move their current mobile subscribers from the Optus network over to the Vodafone network.^[28]