The upcoming 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction has attracted the biggest fish in the wireless-pond, and the FCC has confirmed 214 qualified bidders that are ready and rearin’ to get their auction-on.
Come Jan. 24, we’ll be seeing the hard-hitters like Google, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS, Alltel, as well as cable-operators like DISH Network parent company EchoStar Communications. All qualified bidders were required to put up a $128 payment in order to participate in the auction.
Unfortunately, Frontline Wireless’s national-emergency-response-wireless-broadband-network dreams have been dashed, as they failed to qualify for the auction. The company’s withdrawl from the auction has cast some doubt on Frontline Wireless’s future.
The auction will take about a month to complete, and all bids will be confidential and anonymous, so we have a bit of a wait before we find out exactly which companies will be walking away with a piece of the coveted 700Mhz spectrum.
[Via: CellularNews]