American telecom operator Sprint will not bid in the upcoming spectrum auction in the U.S.
However, Sprint is looking ahead to the bigger sale of spectrum planned for next year, Reuters reported.
Friday is the last day for submitting initial applications for companies considering participation in the Federal Communications Commission’s auction of frequencies known as AWS-3.
The spectrum auction is scheduled to begin on November 13.
The spectrum auction is expected to raise at least $10 billion.
The telecom industry is expecting that satellite operator Dish Network, and three other top U.S. wireless carriers, Verizon Communications, AT&T and T-Mobile US will be participating in the auction.
“Sprint has decided not to participate in the FCC’s AWS-3 auction but will continue to evaluate the opportunities presented by the upcoming 600 MHz incentive auction,” said Sprint spokesman Jeffrey Silva in a statement.
The interest in participating in the 600 MHz spectrum auction indicates that Sprint still wants to expand its reach and build a robust telecom network in the American wireless market. Earlier, Sprint — partly owned by SoftBank of Japan — pulled out of its bid for buying T-Mobile U.S.
The incentive auction n mid-2015 will offer wireless carriers the first opportunity since 2008 to buy low-frequency airwaves, considered the beachfront property of radio spectrum for their reach and strength.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
