The FCC on Tuesday announced the successful conclusion of bidding in Auction 102, the 24 GHz band, which is the second auction of millimeter wave spectrum earmarked for 5G. Auction 101, which involved the 28 GHz band, concluded earlier this year.
“American leadership in 5G means deploying more airwaves for the next generation of wireless connectivity,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in a statement. “The successful conclusion of our nation’s first two high-band flexible, mobile-use spectrum auctions is a critical step. By making more spectrum available, we’ll ensure that American consumers reap the substantial benefits that 5G innovation will bring and we’ll extend U.S. leadership in 5G.”
Together, the Spectrum Frontiers auctions of the 24 GHz and 28 GHz bands raised more than $2.7 billion in gross bids. Combined, 55 applicants were qualified to bid, and the winning bidders won 5,869 licenses, according to the FCC.
Specifically, Auction 101 ended with a total of $702,572,410 in gross bids, while Auction 102, which included a lot more markets across the country, raised a total of $2,024,268,941.
The FCC has not yet released the names of the winners.
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There’s yet another millimeter wave auction scheduled for later this year. Auction 103, which includes the upper 37, 39 and 47 GHz bands, will represent the largest spectrum auction in the nation’s history, with 3,400 megahertz up for bid.