Will three be the lucky number for the FCC as its once again attempts to open up low-band spectrum in support of 5G services?
The Federal Communications Commission this week began stage three of its now protracted 600 MHz incentive auction proceedings, with a new bout of reverse auction bidding looking to free up spectrum from television broadcasters.
The first two rounds of the proceedings failed to find a money match between what those broadcasters wanted to give up spectrum and what telecom operators were willing to spend to acquire those assets.
The first stage resulted in broadcasters wanting in excess of $86 billion for 126 megahertz of total spectrum, which failed to entice sufficient bidding activity from telecom operators for the 100 megahertz of clean spectrum on offer. Stage two met a similar fate as the request for $54 billion by television broadcasters for 114 megahertz of total spectrum failed to persuade even a second round of bidding from telecom operators for the 90 megahertz of clean spectrum up for bid.
With stage three, television broadcasters are now being asked what they are willing to take for 108 megahertz of total spectrum, which would then be repackaged into 80 megahertz of clean spectrum to be auctioned to telecom operators in the forward auction proceedings.
On this week’s carrier wrap we speak with Berge Ayvazian, senior analyst at Wireless 20/20, to discuss the latest auction round and whether the two sides in the process can find a common dollar amount in order to begin the transition of this low-band spectrum for eventual 5G use.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has repeatedly cited the 600 MHz spectrum as key for 5G work, with the timing on having that spectrum available for commercial wireless services falling in line with plans for broader 5G deployments around 2020.
Thanks for watching this week’s show, and make sure to check out our next Carrier Wrap episode when we speak with Federated Wireless on the advantages and challenges of spectrum sharing.
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