RSS RSS Twitter Twitter
macnn/electronista

03/21/2008, 11:05am, EDT

Friday, March 21st

AT&T's 700MHz wins require $1.3b up front

AT&T's gains for wireless space in the FCC 700MHz auction will cost it enough to require a major downpayment, according to a filing by the cellular carrier. The company explains that its new space will demand a $1.3 billion down payment within the next ten days and that it will need to take on a debt load of $5.3 billion to pay for the remaining amount. The figures make up a significant portion of the overall auction, which resulted in a reportedly record-setting $18.9 billion in net bids spread across a mix of large telecoms companies as well as regional businesses.

Most of AT&T's successful bids were in the "B" block of the 700MHz spectrum and covered regional licenses rather than the national license obtained by Verizon for the competitive "C" block. AT&T has responded to its results by declaring itself pleased with the auction, which still gives it 95 percent coverage of the US population.

Both AT&T and Verizon are believed to be obtaining the rights to use the frequency spectrum for the sake of future 4G Internet networks, which would use the relatively low frequency to offer faster speeds at longer ranges and with better signal quality indoors. Unlike Verizon, AT&T is not subject to the open access conditions for the "C" block and can optionally lock out competing devices or software on a future service.

AT&T has typically sold devices locked to its network and restricted software, but also allows unlocked GSM devices to run on its network and is believed to have relinquished most control over what users can install to the iPhone.


Filed under: iPhone, industry
Other story tags: AT&T, Verizon, FCC, 700MHz

, , 2comments, del.icio.us, slashdot, digg, buzz , Twitter
2 comments
Reader Reactions (Please use <i></i> for italic text)

subscribe to comments
for this article




Expand All   Global Settings
why?
0
03/21, 11:23am, EDT
Why did AT&T bother buying this spectrum? From all that I understand, they should be able to sit back, relax, and watch all the other cell carriers collapse and fail within the next year (since no one wants any phone but an iPhone). Then they could just pick up the airwaves cheap.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
User is offline
That collapse...
0
03/21, 12:34pm, EDT
won't happen until Apple releases their iPhone with 4G Internet capabilities with autostereoscopic 3-D display hardware! - 'grins'
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Feb 2008
User is offline
Your Comments

In order to post comments: If you are a registered member, please login with your MacNN Forums username and password otherwise please uncheck the checkbox below.


Registered Member?
macnn forums login:

macnn forums password:

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

www.cashforiphones.com - Sell your iPhone or iPod today! Get an instant online quote. Top cash, FREE shipping.

Internet Marketing School - 100% Online: Master SEO, SEM, E Commerce, Media & More with a U of San Francisco Certificate.

Buy from The Apple Store, iTunes.com, Amazon.com, TechDepot, OfficeDepot, Computers4Sure, or donate.