WASHINGTON, D.C. — While Canada’s 3500 MHz spectrum auction is delayed until June 2021, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced Tuesday it has successfully concluded its auction of 70 MHz of priority access licences (PALs) in the 3550-3650 MHz band.
Designated as Auction 105, this is the FCC’s first 5G mid-band spectrum auction, which made available the greatest number of spectrum licences ever in a single FCC auction, says the news release. The 70 MHz of licensed spectrum will further the deployment of 5G as well as the Internet of Things (IOT) and other advanced spectrum-based services, says the release.
Gross proceeds from the auction totalled almost US$4.6 billion, and the successful bidders won 20,625 of 22,631 available licences, or more than 91%. The FCC says it will release a public notice providing detailed auction results in the next few days. That information will be available at www.fcc.gov/auction/105.
“This is a banner day for American leadership in 5G and for American consumers. The 3.5 GHz auction has concluded, and I can say unequivocally: It was a resounding success,” said FCC chairman Ajit Pai. “The strong demand for licences was the direct result of this Commission’s reforms to the rules for the 3.5 GHz band — reforms that would not have been possible without the leadership and hard work of my colleague, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. This auction has been a key part of our 5G FAST Plan and our ongoing push to make more mid-band spectrum available for 5G.”
The FCC is making available an additional 280 MHz of mid-band spectrum for 5G in the C-band auction scheduled to begin on December 8, 2020.
Canada’s own 3500 MHz auction was originally scheduled to start December 15, 2020, but Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains announced in June the auction would be delayed until June 15, 2021.
At the same time, Bains also announced consultation on 3800 MHz spectrum would start this month.
