2.69 GHz to 5 GHz band pricing review and proposed annual adjustments to apparatus licence tax rates

We received 2 submissions to the consultation. You can access these at the bottom of the page.

Apparatus licence tax annual updates

Both submissions supported using the population-based methodology to update apparatus licence tax rates.

In our consultation paper, we proposed tax rate increases for the Australia-wide and medium-density areas based on population growth rates of 1.97% and 2.00% respectively. These figures were calculated using incomplete population data and have since been recalculated. The updated population growth rates are 2.03% for Australia-wide and 2.39% for medium-density. 

Given stakeholder support for our methodology, we have decided to update apparatus licence tax rates with recalculated Australia-wide and medium-density area population growth rates. We have made the Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licence Tax) Amendment Determination 2026 (No. 1) and Radiocommunications (Receiver Licence Tax) Amendment Determination 2026 (No. 1).

2.69 GHz to 5 GHz review outcomes

Submissions provided input to our 2.69 GHz to 5 GHz band pricing review. We generally received support for our proposal to expand the review into additional bands below 2.69 GHz. However, one submission suggested a narrower scope by excluding the 520 MHz to 960 MHz band. 

We acknowledge the 2.69 GHz to 5 GHz band may share more characteristics with the 960 MHz to 2.69 GHz band than with spectrum lower than 960 MHz. However, there are also relevant shared use-cases in the bordering 520 MHz to 960 MHz band, such as fixed and land mobile services. 

The 520 MHz to 960 MHz band’s inclusion will help us ensure that relative prices between all the bands included in the broader pricing review will be appropriate. 

We plan to incorporate this feedback and expand on the points raised in submissions in a combined pricing review of the 520 MHz to 5 GHz band.

This consultation covers 2 separate work streams:

2.69 GHz to 5 GHz band pricing review

We are publishing our analysis from our 2.69 GHz to 5 GHz band pricing review. This is in line with our commitment to periodic pricing reviews for frequency bands. These help us assess whether:

• apparatus licence tax rates remain appropriate
• any changes would enhance efficiency of spectrum allocation and use. 

We find no compelling evidence to make changes to existing tax parameters for the 2.69 GHz to 5 GHz band at this stage. We are proposing to expand the review so that 520 MHz to 2.69 GHz is reviewed alongside the 2.69 GHz to 5 GHz band.

We invite your feedback on our proposed approach to demand analysis, and on the proposal to expand the review to 520 MHz to 5 GHz.

Proposed annual adjustments to apparatus licence tax rates

We plan to undertake annual updates to apparatus licence tax rates using our population-based methodology. This is based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics dataset ‘Population estimates by significant urban areas’. 

We propose for the tax updates to apply from 5 April 2026, as we have done previously.