The latest AWS-3 spectrum auction concluded earlier this week in the US, with total winning bids exceeding $3.5 billion.. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the auction bidding exceeded expectations, noting that valuable mid-band spectrum that was previously idle has been “allocated for productive use.”. – Getty Images.
It was the first spectrum auction for four years following the lengthy lapse in the FCC’s authority to sell off the nation’s spectrum. However, the regulator regained its ability to auction spectrum last year.. “After years on the sidelines, FCC auctions are finally back,” said Brendan Carr, FCC chair. “Today’s successful auction generated billions of dollars in competitive bids to put spectrum to effective commercial use, and it bolsters competition in the wireless marketplace.
We will carry this momentum forward as we prepare for the Upper C-Band auction in the year ahead.. “Spectrum auctions are the lifeblood of licensed wireless service. More spectrum means lower prices and stronger competition.
I thank the many FCC team members who made the success of this auction possible through their hard work and expertise.”. The FCC stated that up to $3.3bn of the auction’s proceeds will be used to cover amounts borrowed to support the FCC’s “rip and replace” program and other Commerce Department programs..
The auction, formally designated as Auction 113, kicked off on June 2, 2026. In total, 17 qualified bidders participated in the auction, which ran for 72 rounds.. 200 spectrum licenses in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands were up for grabs.
These were subject to bid defaults or bid withdrawals in the 2014 auction and thus have remained unused in the FCC’s inventory since then.. Most of these licenses were originally auctioned to Dish Network, which is now part of EchoStar, back in 2014. However, after defaulting on payment obligations, the licenses were returned to the FCC..
The FCC confirmed that it’s also on course to meet Congress’s deadline to complete a system of competitive bidding for at least 100 megahertz in the Upper C-band, set for no later than July of next year.. More in Government & Military. 04 Mar 2026.
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