Wifi Revolution

Google (News - Alert) Inc. has joined the long list of 266 potential bidders for the auction of 700 MHz Band licenses scheduled to start on Jan. 24, 2008.

 

The auction is open to any eligible company or individual who submits an application and upfront payment, and is found to be a qualified bidder by the Commission.

 

The Federal Communications Commission released a list of the 266 prospective bidders earlier this week. Of the 266 applications received, Google's was one of 96 applicants deemed "accepted for filing."

 

Google now needs to submit an upfront payment for the auction licenses, the deadline of which is scheduled for January 4, 2008 at 6:00pm EST. The auction is likely to net in as much as $15 billion from winning bids.

 

With an intention of resolving the long-pending issue of mobile users who face buying new phones every time they switch wireless carriers, the FCC (News - Alert), after intense analysis, set the rules for the sale of the spectrum, which TV stations will abandon when they switch to digital-only signals in early 2009.

 

The major spectrum auction will be a great opportunity for a new player to enter the wireless market. It opens up a much larger market for wireless broadband technologies and services.

 

Google is participating in the auction bidding as Google Airwaves Inc.

 

The auction rules will include "open access" requirements on about a third of the spectrum. The winning bidder for those frequencies will be required to permit wireless customers to use whatever phones and software they choose, as long as it does not harm the network.

 

 

 

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