Wireless Strategy in the News

July 7, 2008

Press Release

Wireless Strategy Submits Better AWS-3 Plan to FCC

McLean, VA - The FCC has proposed auctioning the 2155-2180 MHz spectrum as flexible use, which would allow device transmissions in the band and cause interference to neighboring bands' devices. The FCC plan would also auction a 5+5 MHz block near PCS spectrum, historically criticized as causing interference to PCS devices, 2 GHz satellites, and base stations operating in the 2000-2020 MHz band.

"We have a better plan," said Doug Hyslop of Wireless Strategy. "By pairing the 2155-2180 MHz spectrum with blocks more suitable for device transmission, the FCC will gain two large broadband blocks to auction. Our plan will generate more revenue for the government, deliver more capacity, create less interference, and lower the cost of system deployment for all AWS and MSS/ATC licensees."

The Wireless Strategy plan for AWS-3 has been submitted to the FCC for consideration, and is available for download from their web site.

Wireless Strategy AWS-3 Band Plan

February 26, 2008

Comm Daily

E-Block Auction Still Active as Most Other Bidding Slows

Sources said Qualcomm is probably the most active bidder, but at least one carrier seems to be challenging Qualcomm in some markets. Tom Peters of Wireless Strategy said the E block has been the spectrum to watch for several weeks, since the high bids on several of the largest blocks were made in Round 37.

"There has been quite a bit of jockeying for position and aggressive bidding to get some of the larger properties," Peters told us. "It looks like someone puts in a bid and then the incumbent holding the license counter bids. It just goes on like that. It has the effect of increasing the provisionally winning bid amount." The A and B blocks, the other blocks with new bidders, haven't been nearly as active, he said.

February 15, 2008

Wireless Week

Spectrum Auctions Continue, But C-Block Likely Finished

February 14, 2008

Potomac Tech Wire

McLean-Based Wireless Strategy Launches FCC Auction Tracker

McLean, Va. -- Wireless Strategy, a McLean-based consulting firm specializing in wireless engineering support for operators and vendors, has launched an online auction tracker on its web site, detailing the bidding process in the FCC's ongoing auction for 700 MHz wireless spectrum. The tracker provides daily insight and analysis of the auction, which includes airwaves that television stations will no longer use as they switch to digital signals. The three-week-old auction has been expected to raise about $10 billion for the government. The tracker is available at the link below.

http://www.wirelessstrategy.com/auction.html

February 7, 2008

Comm Daily

Last Hopes Vanish of Bidder Meeting D-Block Reserve

The only round one D block bid was $472 million, far below the $1.3 billion reserve. Speculation had that sum being offered by Verizon Wireless. But bidding is anonymous, so no one but the bidder and the FCC knows.

[...]

"I don't think it looks good today, and I said on our Web site yesterday if it didn't happen today it wasn't going to happen," said Tom Peters of Wireless Strategy consulting. The one hope is that the first round bidder bids more, he said: "The ball is in their court."

If Verizon Wireless is the D-block bidder and if it succeeded in bidding for the 22 MHz C block, as many observers speculate, it would have less reason to bid more for the D block, sources agreed. Bidding for the C block appears all but over.