The Federal Communications Commission has certified 35 bidders for its upcoming Auction 58 that will include 242 spectrum licenses in the 1.9 GHz band scheduled to begin Jan. 26. The FCC has set aside 119 licenses for so-called designated entities, while the remaining 123 licenses are available to all bidders.
Similar to the FCC’s ill-fated Auction 35 in early 2001, many of the designated entities set to participate in Auction 58 are affiliated with more established wireless players, including Edge Mobile L.L.C./Cingular Wireless L.L.C.; Vista PCS L.L.C./Verizon Wireless; Wirefree Partners III L.L.C./Sprint Corp.; and Cook Inlet/T-Mobile USA Inc. Additional carriers participating through bidding partners include Leap Wireless International Inc. through Alaska Native Broadband L.L.C., U.S. Cellular Corp. through Carroll Wireless LP, and MetroPCS Inc. through Royal Street Communications L.L.C.
Verizon Wireless and Leap are also participating in the auction of non-DE licenses, along with Centennial Communications Corp., Triton PCS Inc. and Midwest Wireless.
Analysts noted that bidding strategies have likely changed following a rash of merger and acquisition announcements, and those companies that have not participated in the recent deals are expected to be the most likely drivers during the auction.
Auction 35 generated more than $16 billion in bids mostly through the attempted re-auction of NextWave Telecom Inc.’s spectrum. The FCC has set minimum opening bids of $752 million for all 242 licenses available in Auction 58.
