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From the News Desk
Friday, 25. January 2008
Bidding for Wireless Spectrum Totals USD 2.8Bn on the First Day
The auction of 700MHz wireless spectrum in five separate blocks kicked off in the US with first-round bids totaling around USD 2.8bn, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Verizon Wireless, Google, AT&T, Cablevision and other heavy hitters representing a cross section of the communications industry will vie for the airwaves that the government is freeing up in advance of next year's conversion to digital television broadcasting. The auction is expected to generate as much as USD 15 billion in government revenue.
Five spectrum “blocks” on the table are: A (698-704 MHz and 728-234 MHz), B (704-710 MHz and 734-740 MHz), E (722-728 MHz), C (746-757 MHz and 776-787 MHz), and D (758-763 MHz and 788-793 MHz). Collectively, the entire 700 MHz spectrum covers the analog TV channel range 52-69.
The opening bids included a USD 472m offer for a closely watched block of spectrum, known as the "D" block, which must be shared with public safety agencies under FCC rules, and a USD 1.04bn offer for the sought-after "C" block, which carries another condition requiring that it be open to all devices and software applications. The FCC has set minimum prices of .3bn and .7bn for the D and C blocks, respectively.
There are 214 qualified bidders in the spectrum auction. Among the qualified bidders for the auction are telecommunications giants AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless as well as newcomer, Google Inc. The auction will continue for as long as the bidding remains active, which could be for several weeks or longer.
Verizon Wireless, Google, AT&T, Cablevision and other heavy hitters representing a cross section of the communications industry will vie for the airwaves that the government is freeing up in advance of next year's conversion to digital television broadcasting. The auction is expected to generate as much as USD 15 billion in government revenue.
Five spectrum “blocks” on the table are: A (698-704 MHz and 728-234 MHz), B (704-710 MHz and 734-740 MHz), E (722-728 MHz), C (746-757 MHz and 776-787 MHz), and D (758-763 MHz and 788-793 MHz). Collectively, the entire 700 MHz spectrum covers the analog TV channel range 52-69.
The opening bids included a USD 472m offer for a closely watched block of spectrum, known as the "D" block, which must be shared with public safety agencies under FCC rules, and a USD 1.04bn offer for the sought-after "C" block, which carries another condition requiring that it be open to all devices and software applications. The FCC has set minimum prices of .3bn and .7bn for the D and C blocks, respectively.
There are 214 qualified bidders in the spectrum auction. Among the qualified bidders for the auction are telecommunications giants AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless as well as newcomer, Google Inc. The auction will continue for as long as the bidding remains active, which could be for several weeks or longer.
