- Dense Air and TPG Telecom have agreed to acquire spectrum licenses from each 
other 

- Dense Air to bring its industry-leading shared neutral host solution to the 
Australian market and partner with cities and service providers to build shared 
wireless networks that advance broadband equity and improve carrier economics 

Dense Air Limited ("Dense Air") is pleased to announce that it has agreed with 
TPG Telecom Limited, to purchase TPG Telecom's 2.6 GHz nationwide spectrum 
supplementing Dense Air's existing spectrum licenses and enabling Dense Air to 
work with Australian service providers and cities to build shared 4G and 5G 
wireless networks that close digital divides and ensure ubiquitous 
future-proofed connectivity. These first-of-their-kind shared networks will 
accelerate equitable digital access for cities and communities across 
Australia, benefiting consumers, network operators, and enterprises. The 
transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Dense Air would 
acquire TPG Telecom's 2.6 GHz nationwide spectrum and also sell to TPG Telecom 
Dense Air's 3.6 GHz city licenses. Dense Air, which recently acquired 5G mmWave 
spectrum in the ACMA auction, will use this spectrum in combination with its 
market-leading neutral host RAN-as-a-Service technology to build shared 
wireless networks that accelerate contiguous connectivity and extend and 
enhance the networks of carrier partners. Post the transaction, Dense Air and 
TPG Telecom look forward to exploring opportunities to use Dense Air's 
RAN-as-a-service technology solution in the Australian market. Dense Air 
builds, owns, and operates 4G and 5G "small cell" networks that enhance and 
extend the traditional "macro" networks built by telecom companies. The global 
firm, with operations in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, 
and the United Kingdom, partners with cities and carriers through 
public-private partnerships to build city-wide networks that ensure equitable 
wireless connectivity on shared and licensed spectrum. Small cells, deployed by 
Dense Air on street lights, traffic lights, or rooftops, provide cellular 
coverage that extends hundreds or thousands of feet rather than the miles 
covered by macro cells, delivering higher capacity and lower latency to the end 
user. Small cells complement macro cells by easing network congestion and 
reaching areas where services deteriorate, providing the building blocks for 
deploying high-speed 4G and 5G networks. The 2.6 GHz band license to be 
acquired from TPG Telecom, combined with the 5G mmWave spectrum license Dense 
Air recently acquired in an ACMA auction, gives the company a platform to offer 
both 4G and 5G network densification and extension services across Australia. 
This deal also opens the door for new business models and deployment 
partnerships. For the consumer, it means faster, more efficient 5G access.

Expanding consumer access to reliable broadband allows more Australians to 
benefit from the digital transformation in education, commerce, and community 
services. Those with lower levels of income, employment, and education are most 
at risk of digital exclusion.

In Australia's urban centres, Dense Air will focus on in-building neutral host 
solutions, private 4G and 5G networks, and outdoor network densification. In 
suburban and rural areas, Dense Air will focus on network extension to help all 
communities benefit from modern necessities like borderless classrooms, remote 
learning, assisted living, community working hubs, and connected 
infrastructure. 
Paul Senior, CEO of Dense Air said, "We are very pleased to announce the 
agreement to acquire spectrum from TPG Telecom, which we reached despite the 
challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This spectrum, along with our other 
holdings, will allow Dense Air to bring its unique 'RAN-as-a-Service' business 
model to Australia and enable us to empower cities and communities to build 
shared neutral host networks that close the digital divide and benefit 
operators and consumers alike."
 
About the transaction: 

The transaction involves subsidiaries of TPG Telecom and Dense Air Limited 
entering into an agreement under which TPG Telecom will sell its 2.6 GHz 
spectrum band licenses to Dense Air Networks Australia. In a separate 
agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary of TPG Telecom will acquire all the shares 
of an Australian subsidiary of Dense Air Limited, which holds 3.6 GHz spectrum 
licenses acquired at auction in 2018.
 
The agreements for both the 3.6 GHz spectrum transaction and the 2.6 GHz 
spectrum transaction are subject to conditions precedent, including that the 
two transactions are completed concurrently, and receive approval by the 
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Following satisfaction of the 
conditions, the transactions are expected to complete in September 2021. 

About Dense Air: 

Dense Air, headquartered in London, UK, has spectrum assets in Ireland, 
Belgium, Portugal, New Zealand and Australia. Focusing on mobile and fixed 
broadband services, Dense Air builds innovative public-private partnerships 
with cities to solve connectivity challenges and works with existing network 
operators to densify and/or extend mobile networks. Dense Air provides a unique 
carrier of carriers neutral host small cell service, supporting multiple 
operators through a single RAN infrastructure on clean, licensed spectrum. 
Working closely with operators and municipalities, Dense Air delivers 
cost-effective 4G and 5G solutions to support a range of use cases, including 
enhanced mobile broadband, IoT, public safety, first responder networks, and 
remote learning.

Source: Dense Air