In May 2013, Australia’s auction of Digital Dividend spectrum concluded, leaving one-third of the 700MHz band unsold. The auction, which also included lots of 2.6GHz spectrum, generated AUD$1 billion ($780 million) less than the government had predicted. It was reportedly the first occurrence of any Digital Dividend spectrum being left unsold. The Australian
government has since come under fire for setting the reserve price unrealistically high at $1.43/MHz/population. Of the country’s three incumbent mobile operators, Telstra and Optus bought less of the 700MHz spectrum than they were allowed to under the auction rules, and Vodafone Hutchison Australia chose not to bid at all.