Interesting to read the results here in the US, about the big wireless spectrum auction, and there are lots of winners. First the winning winners: The federal government, which hauled in a record $19.6 billion in bids for the airwaves (though its success was diminished by its inability to unload a block designated for a nationwide emergency communications system).
* Verizon Wireless, which spent about $9.4 billion for a package that includes enough regional licenses in the "C Block" to cover every state except Alaska. "We are very pleased with our auction results," said a company statement. "Specifically, we were successful in achieving the spectrum depth we need to continue to grow our business and data revenues, to preserve our reputation as the nation's most reliable wireless network, and to continue to lead in data services and help us satisfy the next wave of services and consumer electronics devices." Yeah... OK, we got the corporate BullSpeak, already!
* Newcomer Frontier Wireless, owned by satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications (Dish Network), who picked up enough licenses to create a nationwide footprint.
* AT&T won $6.6 billion worth of the smallest licenses on the block.
And the winning loser? GGoogle, which bid the amount necessary to back up its successful push to require open access in the C Block (see "Google: We don't need a lot of spectrum - just the green part"), but now walks away without spending a cent, secure in the knowledge that whatever Verizon does with the C Block, it will have to be open to devices running Google's Android mobile platform. As I've said on numerous posts in the past... You can never ignore the 800 pound gorilla!
George Parker
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