Public benefits and detriments of spectrum sharing in regional Australia

Merger authorisation expert report on the public benefits and detriments of a proposed spectrum sharing arrangement by Telstra Corporation Limited and TPG Telecom Limited,2022

Telstra and TPG proposed to enter an agreement to share active mobile network infrastructure and spectrum in parts of regional Australia. The parties made an application to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for merger authorisation. 

Emma Ihaia was engaged to prepare an expert report to examine the public benefits and detriments of the proposed arrangement. Her report identified and quantified the economic and consumer benefits of reduced mobile network congestion in regional areas of Australia, the impacts of potentially bringing forward 5G network deployment in regional areas, the productive efficiencies and environmental benefits of spectrum sharing, and the dynamic efficiency benefits of 3-player network competition in regional areas. 

• Link Economics report available here