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Google Plans to Bid 4.6 Billion on 700MHz Band

Posted by Zonk on from the dude-you've-been-googed dept.

NickCatal writes "The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google plans to bid $4.6 Billion on the 700 MHz radio spectrum being auctioned off by the FCC. What is most interesting is that they are not planning on partnering with other companies to raise the cash, they are going to spend their own cash and possibly borrow some. With partners such as Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile in their 'Open Handset Alliance' is this a sign that they are willing to directly compete with the people they courted to join?"

1 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. stop the spectrum tax on the airways by troll+-1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Perhaps the whole problem with the FCC is that they auction the spectrum to the highest bidder.

    No wonder providers lock out third party handsets. They just paid billions for the spectrum, they have every incentive to maximize profits.

    What would be most beneficial to the consumer is perhaps a company that just sold mobile IP addresses and had nothing to do with selling devices. Let consumers choose their own devices in a competitive market for the bandwidth they purchase. Maybe the FCC should stop thinking about billions of short term dollars and start thinking about what's best for consumers and the industry as a whole.