The bidding for the latest 5G mm-Wave Spectrum auction in the United States has now completed. Auction 103, made 3400 MHz of millimeter-wave spectrum available for bidding in the Upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands. The auction had a total of $7 Billion ($7,558,703,201) in net bids, with 28 bidders winning a total of 14,142 of 14,144, or more than 99.9%, of available licenses.
The successful conclusion of Auction 103—the largest amount of spectrum offered in an auction in U.S. history—is one more significant step the FCC has taken toward maintaining American leadership in 5G. A critical part of the FCC 5G FAST plan is pushing more spectrum into the commercial marketplace. Last year, the FCC auctioned the 28 GHz and 24 GHz bands. All told, those two auctions and this one have made available almost 5 GHz of high-band spectrum for commercial use. To put that in perspective more spectrum will be available than the current spectrum used for terrestrial mobile broadband by all wireless service providers in the United States combined. Auction 103 was a tremendous success, and FCC looks forward to building on this positive result with the 3.5 GHz auction, which is scheduled to begin on June 25, and the C-band auction, which is scheduled to begin on December 8.
Auction 103 offered licenses made available, in part, because existing 39 GHz licensees committed to relinquish their 39 GHz spectrum usage rights in exchange for incentive payments determined by the bidding in Auction 103. The incentive payments for existing licensees totaled over $3 Billion ($3,084,172,898), leaving net proceeds for the auction of $4,474,530,303. The FCC is dedicated to ensuring the United States leads the world in the development and deployment of 5G technologies. It will take additional steps in 2020 toward this mission. Later this year, the FCC will hold two mid-band spectrum auctions—bidding in the 3.5 GHz auction begins on June 25, and bidding in the 3.7 GHz auction (known as the C-band) is expected to begin on December 8.
By making more low, mid, and high-band spectrum available, promoting the deployment of wireless infrastructure, and modernizing regulations to advance fiber deployment—the three components of the FCC’s 5G FAST plan—the FCC is enabling American consumers to reap the substantial benefits that will come from the next generation of wireless connectivity. The FCC Public Notice specifies deadlines for payments and the filing of long-form applications and gives details for other post-auction procedures, including procedures regarding related incentive payments.
Click here to learn more about the FCC’s 5G efforts.
