NBN Co was the big winner in a spectrum auction conducted yesterday by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

It successfully bid $1.3 million for 24 licences out of 40 offered in the 2.3GHz band in regional and remote areas – suitable spectrum for NBN Co’s planned LTE fixed wireless service.

Telstra won 12 licences at a cost of $304,300, while BKAL – part of the Seven group’s Unwired/Vividwireless group – scored four licences for just $37,300.

ACMA says a further eight spectrum licences in the 2.3GHz band will be offered to BKAL at a pre-determined price. BKAL was the only bidder for these licences.

The spectrum bought by NBN Co yesterday covers parts of WA, the NT, SA, QLD and western NSW. It follows NBN Co’s $120 million purchase of 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz spectrum from Austar earlier this year.