The FCC today released results for Auction 97, its just-completed sale of 65 megahertz of AWS-3 spectrum.
AT&T poured the most money into the auction, shelling out $18.2 billion in provisional winning bids (PWB).
Verizon spent $10.4 billion in the auction. T-Mobile spent about $1.8 billion.
Dish Network surprised by spending more on PWBs than estimated. The satellite-TV provider, through its bidding partnerships, spent more than $13 billion. Its partners Northstar and SNR spent $7.8 billion and $5.5 billion respectively.
Together, the four bidders and their partners bid $43.7 billion, the majority of the $44.9 billion gross revenue the FCC hauled in.
In all, 31 bidders won 1611 licenses. The FCC reported $41.3 billion in net proceeds.
The auction began Nov. 1 and lasted 45 days. It set a new record for revenue from an FCC spectrum auction.
The FCC plans to launch its next major auction, the 600 MHz broadcast incentive auctions, in early 2016.
Filed Under: Industry regulations + certifications