Although AU$1.12 billion was spent collectively at the March spectrum auctions earlier this year, mobile carriers are remaining tight-lipped about a third generation kick-off, with the view being that it could happen any time between next year and three years down the track.
-I think 2002 may be optimistic," Ross Monaghan of Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), told ZDNet Australia. -This is not a sprint, it's a marathon...however, within the year I expect some carriers will have started to trial the technology," he added.
Telstra's, Catherine Payne said the telco heavyweight was taking a -sensible" approach to its 3G rollout and hadn't put a date on its launch, adding that it wasn't about a network rollout but about customer expectations. -We will roll out our 3G network infrastructure when and if required to support customer demand," she said.
Payne believes there's a strategic business plan for 3G in Australia but said it's about providing the customer with what they want. -It's an evolutionary process," she said.
Whilst claiming to be in talks with vendors Payne said: -I don't believe announcing any major deals has any bearing on speed to market."
Telstra spent AU$310 million at the spectrum auctions this year, picking up 2x15megahertz spectrum licences in eight major cities, 2x10 megahertz licences in 10 regional areas and five megahertz of unpaired spectrum in eight cities.
-We believe we have the network capabilities already," Payne said. -We're aiming to be leaders in that space."
However, Hutchison Telecommunications, which formed a strategic alliance with parent company Hutchison Whampoa and Telecom New Zealand in May 2001 for the development of 3G services in Australia, aims to be the first to market with 3G services to customers.
Hutchison, which bid AU$671 million for 1.8GHz spectrum licences in March 2000 and AU$198 million for 2.1GHz spectrum licences in March 2001, claims its third generation network will be launched in Australia sometime around the end of 2002/early 2003.
The first stage of its rollout, covering the Eastern Seaboard - Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane -- is on target and scheduled to commence next month, a spokesperson for the company claims.
-In Australia we have the opportunity to be a 'pure 3G player' with no legacy network and large customer base and therefore can employ cutting edge technology from day one," a company spokesperson told ZDNet Australia. -We are also in a unique position to be the first to market with a commercial 3G network in Australia and we firmly believe we have the capabilities and resources to achieve this goal."
Vodafone said it hopes to have rolled out 3G in Australia and New Zealand by 2004.
Optus wasn't available for comment by press time.
