The government has confirmed the first auction of 5G spectrum with be the 3.5 GHz band and will be held early in 2020.
"We are on track and keeping pace with other countries: with the spectrum being progressively allocated, companies can start rolling out 5G from 2020," Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi said in a statement.
"While spectrum allocations occur, we will concurrently be working with Maori to address the radio spectrum-related Treaty of Waitangi issues," Faafoi says.
"Until this work has been completed, we will not be able to provide details of the 3.5 GHz spectrum that will be available for auction," he says.
National spectrum rights in the 3.5 GHz band will be available to use from November 2022 when the existing rights to this spectrum expire, although an operator might be able to use its rights earlier with the agreement of the existing rights holder.