A PYMNTS Company

US: Dish nabs $1.5B worth of spectrum

 |  March 5, 2014

Dish Network scored a major spectrum haul in the Federal Communications Commission’s wireless auction, say reports, as the broadcasting company acquired $1.56 billion worth of airwaves in all 176 US markets.

Dish’s had earlier agreed to spend that money in exchange for more flexibility by the FCC in how is uses its spectrum. That agreement, struck last year, also allowed Dish to extend its deadline to establish a national broadband network, say reports.

The FCC is expected to pump the money raised from the auction back into wireless infrastructure projects to boost communications for emergency responders. Now that the spectrum is acquired, Dish’s future remains uncertain. Reports say the company could potentially launch its own wireless company, or sell the spectrum to existing operators.

Full Content: Forbes

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.