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Wireless Carriers looking for Elbow Room

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the room-to-breath dept.

pillageplunder writes "Businessweek is reporting on the upcoming Wireless Spectrum Auctions. Over the next two years (Starting in Jan 2005) the FCC will auction off enough spectrum that will more than double the amount currently available. Estimates range anywhere from 50 to 70 billion dollars will be raised by these auctions. Short term, it should improve the quality of Cell-phone, long term, it should open up opportunities for so-called 3G services to take off."

3 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why should the FCC Sell? by Pxtl · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Besides that, I have the creeping sensation that this will just be used to further proprietise the US cellular communication system, pushing interoperability even further away. Company X uses expanded protocol Z that uses band ranges Y and so on, making it harder for customers to switch providers.

  2. Coverage obligations! by grahamsz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Lets hope they do something like the UK where 3G bidders are obliged to cover 80% of the population by 2007.

    That way citizens of the US get more out of the deal.. as a european living in the us i'm appalled at how frequently i loose reception.

    http://www.cellular-news.com/3G/uk.shtml

  3. 3G isn't going to work... by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...if they still charge too much for the content.

    I'm talking $3 for a 125x125 background picture, only allow people to keep it for three months and that kind of crap.

    I'm not paying $10 a month for slow internet service to same phone with 125 resolution either.