US communications regulator the FCC has selected 70 out of 80 bidders to take part in the AWS-3 spectrum auction, scheduled for 13 November. These include mobile operators Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile US as well as satellite company Dish Network, along…
US communications regulator the FCC has selected 70 out of 80 bidders to take part in the AWS-3 spectrum auction, scheduled for 13 November.
These include mobile operators Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile US as well as satellite company Dish Network, along with smaller regional players such as Bluegrass Wireless, NTT Docomo’s Docomo Pacific, Grand River Communications and Piedmont Rural Telephone Cooperative.
In July, the FCC said it expected to raise at least US$10.65bn from the auction, which will offer 1,614 licences in the 1,695-1,710 MHz, 1,755-1,780 MHz and 2,155-2,180 MHz bands.
The upcoming auction will be the US’ largest since it sold 700 MHz licences in 2008, when it raised more than US$19.5bn.
In September, Softbank-owned Sprint Corp, which is the country’s third-largest carrier, announced it would not take part in the tender in order to review the opportunities presented by the 600 MHz incentive auction, which was initially scheduled for mid-2015.
However, last week, the FCC delayed the planned 600MHz auction to 2016 because of its complex structure.
The so-called incentive auction is designed to get broadcasters to surrender their low-frequency spectrum and put it into the hands of telcos to cater for the ever-rising demand for 4G services.
However, some broadcasters have voiced concerns over the terms of the tender and have launched a lawsuit against the regulator.
