The upcoming wireless spectrum auction to be held by the FCC here in the U.S. is scheduled to take place next month in November and so far the majority of all the big players you’d be expecting to take part in it have confirmed their participation. That includes Verizon Wireless of course, and oddly enough, DISH Network who deals and specializes in providing TV services to America’s homes. Also confirmed to be taking part in the auctions are AT&T and the nation’s fourth largest wireless carrier, T-Mobile USA Inc. Surprisingly Sprint who is the third largest wireless provider in the U.S., has stated that they’ll be abstaining from the AWS-3 spectrum auction because they want to save their available funds for the larger auction of lower frequency bands which is slated to take place sometime in 2015.
The spectrum auction will hold open the ability to all involved parties to bid on available chunks of AWS-3 spectrum, beginning on November 13th, close to a month and a half away. The four companies listed above are merely the largest groups to display interest in competing through bids for the frequencies, but there are actually many interested companies according to reuters, 80 in all, that have submitted applications to participate, although it isn’t clear whether or not all 80 companies will be placing bids. Other smaller companies such as Bluegrass Wireless LLC, Docomo Pacific Inc. and Big River Broadband are just a few of the other companies said to be showing up to the auction along with the big name companies, but unless some of the interested groups make the needed adjustments as pre the FCC’s request to their applications by October 15th deadline, it’s possible that some of them won’t be allowed to participate at all.
That two weeks gives any companies who have what the FCC is deeming “incomplete applications,” of which AT&T is potentially included in, to make the necessary changes so that they may be accepted into the auction to bid. That two weeks also gives Sprint the time to place an application themselves although there hasn’t been any indication they plan to do so, we’re just merely speculating that they still have an opportunity to be included with the time that’s left. Out of all 80 companies reportedly 47 of them which is more than half, have submitted applications to the FCC showing interest in bidding that are incomplete.