It looks like AC BidCo will emerge as the winner of the largest of the two spectrum bands the FCC is auctioning for in-flight services. AC BidCo, consisting of AirCell and private equity firm Ripplewood Holdings, is the only remaining bidder for the band with a provisional winning bid of $31.1 million. The narrower spectrum band allocated for air-to-ground services will likely be won by lead bidder LivTV, the in-flight entertainment arm of JetBlue Airways. It had a provisional winning bid of $2.62 million. Still, the biggest perplexing news surrounds Verizon's Airfone, which dropped out of the auction. The company now must vacate the spectrum it uses to offer Airfone voice services by May 2010. "We're exploring other options, and we'll comment further after the quiet period is over," James Pilcher, Airfone's director of marketing said.
For more about the air-to-ground spectrum auction results:
- read this article from AP