The first round of the US’ AWS-3 spectrum auction has generated bids totalling nearly US$ 1.8bn. The J-block licence covering the New York City area attracted eight bids, including a US$105.9m offer, according to a report by US publication RCR…
The first round of the US’ AWS-3 spectrum auction has generated bids totalling nearly US$ 1.8bn.
The J-block licence covering the New York City area attracted eight bids, including a US$105.9m offer, according to a report by US publication RCR Wireless.
The H and I-blocks, which cover the same area, respectively received six bids with a top offer of US$48.5m, and seven bids with a US$44.1m offer.
Outside of New York, a J-block licence covering Los Angeles attracted six bids with the highest settling at US$65.5m, while an H-block concession covering the city received five bids with a high bid of US$36m.
US telecoms regulator, the FCC, is tendering 1,614 licences in the 1,695-1,710 MHz, 1,755-1,780 MHz and 2,155-2,180 MHz bands.
It expects to raise at least US$10.65bn from the spectrum sale, which is the country’s largest since it sold 700 MHz licences in 2008, when it raised more than US$19.5bn.
A total of 70 bidders are taking part in the auction, including 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.
There were a total three rounds on opening day, 13 November, each lasting an hour. The fourth round begins today.
