AWS-3 spectrum auction in the U.S. wireless market has exceeded the $10 billion reserve price for 50 MHz of paired spectrum.
The ongoing auction will provide significant funding towards the construction of FirstNet, the new national public safety broadband network.
Wireless carriers Verizon Communications, AT&T, T-Mobile US and satellite provider Dish Network were expected to be the biggest bidders. AWS-3 is the second of FCC’s series of auctions.
The sale of H-Block airwaves, completed in March and bagged by Dish, raised $1.56 billion.
The harmonization of 1755-1780 MHz and 2155-2180 MHz bands globally will allow telecom manufacturers to build wireless devices at lower cost. Wireless operators will find that international roaming is more easily.
In a statement, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) welcomed the outcome of the AWS-3 spectrum auction by the telecom regulator Federal Communication Commission. The auction is expected to reduce spectrum crunch caused by consumer demand for mobile broadband.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
