Future allocations of 2300 MHz & 2600 MHz spectrum

The Government has agreed to largely renew existing Management Rights in 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz. However, some spectrum will be reallocated through direct offers and auctions to balance the need for investment certainty for service continuity and enabling competition to meet long term connectivity needs.

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Existing Management Rights for radio frequencies between 2300 – 2395 MHz and 2500 – 2690 MHz expire in 2030 and 2028 respectively. These frequencies are currently used for mobile cellular services (4G and 5G) and regional wireless services (such as regional broadband).

Management Rights in these frequencies were last allocated in 2007 on a ‘first principles’ basis. This meant that Management Rights were auctioned instead of renewing rights held by incumbents. International developments combined with decreased utilisation of rights since the 1990’s supported a first-principles allocation at the time.

Read about the 2007 allocation process

Policy decisions on future allocations of 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz

In June 2026, Cabinet agreed to a package of proposals in relation to the expiring Management Rights in 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz. This includes:

  • the creation of 20-year rights upon the expiry of existing Management Rights
  • renewal of around 70 per cent of existing Management Rights held by Spark and One NZ to provide investment certainty for spectrum that is in use and maintain continuity of services
  • make up to 20 MHz available in the 2300 MHz band for defence operations in specific areas and offer 30 MHz in the 2600 MHz band to 2degrees to enable competition and improve defence capabilities
  • auction any remaining spectrum in 2600 MHz to mobile network operators to ensure spectrum is allocated to the highest value user
  • maintain existing spectrum allocations for Māori and non-national services.

Cabinet’s decisions were informed by feedback from the consultation processes (outlined below) and sought to balance the need for continuity, competition and efficient use of spectrum, and will support better outcomes for New Zealand over the long term.

These are high-level policy decisions providing a framework for detailed allocation decisions to be determined by the Minister for Media and Communications. Decisions on price of new rights will be determined jointly between the Minister for Media and Communications and the Minister of Finance.

Further policy and technical work will be undertaken to enable new rights to be allocated in 2027.

Approach to Expiring or Unused Rights Coversheet – Cabinet paper [PDF 392KB](external link) – MBIE

Approach to Expiring or Unused Rights Coversheet – Cabinet minute [PDF 299KB](external link) – MBIE

Targeted consultation on allocation mechanisms for 2600 MHz

In early 2026, following diverging views on the preferred approach to allocating Management Rights between mobile network operators, RSM undertook targeted consultation on alternative options that sought to balance investment certainty and reduce spectrum disparities to promote competition amongst mobile network operators over the next 20 years.

The targeted consultation sought feedback from mobile network operators as the only submitters that commented on allocation approaches and sought access to Management Rights in 2600 MHz. Mobile network operators were presented four options for allocating 2600 MHz spectrum: partial renewal to incumbents only, equal direct offers to all mobile network operators, unequal direct offers with incumbents being offered a larger share and combined approach of a partial renewal to incumbents and an additional equal direct offer to all mobile network operators.

Under all options, some spectrum was proposed to be auctioned to enable a market-based allocation to the highest value user.

The consultation also proposed a 20 per cent premium on spectrum offers and decoupling delaying decisions on the 2300 MHz band to enable both Government and industry to ascertain demand and optimal use for this band.

Operators were asked to rank their preferred options and comment on the commercial impacts of delaying decisions on 2300 MHz.

Targeted consultation on allocation approach [PDF 605KB](external link) – MBIE

Public consultation on the 2300 MHz & 2600 MHz Management Rights review

RSM reviewed existing Management Rights to understand current and future uses of the 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum bands.

As part of the review, RSM undertook public consultation on:

  • policy objectives
  • band configuration
  • approaches to allocation of spectrum
  • future of non-national rights in the 2600 MHz band, and
  • term of future Management Rights.

Options identified and analysed by RSM were set out in a discussion document linked below.

Discussion document – 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz Management Rights review [PDF, 481 KB]

Public consultation commenced on 19 November 2025 and concluded on 23 January 2026.

Stay informed

More information on the progress of this work will be provided through the RSM Business Update.

Subscribe to our Business Update email newsletter(external link)

If you have questions, email Radio.Spectrum@mbie.govt.nz with the subject line ‘2300 and 2600 Management Rights review’.