Another read on the FCC sale..
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/060808/telecoms_fcc_auction.html?.v=1
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. wireless companies face new competition on Wednesday as they start bidding on licenses for advanced wireless services like high-speed Internet -- from the satellite and cable television industries.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will auction 1,122 licenses that analysts predict may raise $15 billion and last several weeks. The 168 bidders, including the top cable and satellite providers, have made $4.3 billion in deposits.
"That appears to indicate strong industry interest in the spectrum, though some of the parties may be more serious than others," Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. analysts said in an August 4 research note.
Wireless companies are eager for additional airwaves as they expand new offerings like video service and high-speed Internet access. Companies reported an eight-fold jump to more than 3 million subscribers in the last six months of 2005.
The sale comes as telecommunications and television providers are battling to attract consumers to a package of voice, Internet and video services, including wireless. Some consumers are also moving away from traditional phone service.
The auction of 90 Megahertz (Mhz) of spectrum will kick off on Wednesday with two rounds of bidding and expand to three rounds on Thursday and subsequent business days until there are no new bids or activity.
There is some risk that the sale could fall short of predictions because some bidders may prefer to wait for airwaves television broadcasters are giving up in 2009. That spectrum is seen as more desirable because it transmits further and can more easily penetrate walls.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/060808/telecoms_fcc_auction.html?.v=1
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. wireless companies face new competition on Wednesday as they start bidding on licenses for advanced wireless services like high-speed Internet -- from the satellite and cable television industries.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will auction 1,122 licenses that analysts predict may raise $15 billion and last several weeks. The 168 bidders, including the top cable and satellite providers, have made $4.3 billion in deposits.
"That appears to indicate strong industry interest in the spectrum, though some of the parties may be more serious than others," Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. analysts said in an August 4 research note.
Wireless companies are eager for additional airwaves as they expand new offerings like video service and high-speed Internet access. Companies reported an eight-fold jump to more than 3 million subscribers in the last six months of 2005.
The sale comes as telecommunications and television providers are battling to attract consumers to a package of voice, Internet and video services, including wireless. Some consumers are also moving away from traditional phone service.
The auction of 90 Megahertz (Mhz) of spectrum will kick off on Wednesday with two rounds of bidding and expand to three rounds on Thursday and subsequent business days until there are no new bids or activity.
There is some risk that the sale could fall short of predictions because some bidders may prefer to wait for airwaves television broadcasters are giving up in 2009. That spectrum is seen as more desirable because it transmits further and can more easily penetrate walls.
