Comments on: Wireless Spectrum Bidders Put Down Billions

By: PanMan

PanMan — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:15:10 +0000

So, what exactly IS on auction? Nice to read all those numbers (sounds like the UMTS auction's here in Europe, which costed billions to the telco's). But, how much spectrum, what can be done with it (restrictions), what frequency (some are better than others in terms of coverage and/or bandwidth) and so on. 1 Billion is not THAT much if one can build a US-nationwide wireless network that supports millions of users and has some bandwith for each to spare. This is quite a simple calculation, of: frequency range * bits/Hz (up to around 5, with modern techniques) /bandwith per user * numbers of users.

So, what exactly IS on auction here?

By: John Thacker

John Thacker — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:24:52 +0000

"Small companies have no way to participate? sad."

Well, the FCC has tried to reserve spectrum for small companies before. What happened is exactly what you might expect-- either small companies or entrepeneurs that are really sock puppets for big companies, or small companies and entrepeneurs whose entire business plan is to sell out to the big companies for the prices that the FCC could have charged the big companies.

Spectrum is expensive, and trying to reserve it doesn't really work.

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 19:32:48 +0000

This game is for Papa Bear and Mama Bear. Baby bear will have to lease or buy from mom and dad.

By: Jacob Varghese

Jacob Varghese — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 16:19:56 +0000

This process only seems to been open to large companies.
Small companies have no way to participate? sad.
I realize that this is a major source of funds for the govt, but shouldn’t there be an avenue for small companies or entrepeneurs to get to play?

By: skibare

skibare — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 15:20:21 +0000

Place another STAKE in the Heart of the RBOC Dinosaur
Wimax VOIP is a nuke=====putting FEAR into the Cellular World
skibare