As previously hinted at, Sprint has confirmed it plans to sit the FCC's 600MHz auction, noting that it already has enough spectrum on hand.

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

September 28, 2015

2 Min Read
Sprint Says It Will Sit Out Incentive Auction

Sprint confirmed this weekend that it doesn't intend to participate in the 600MHz Incentive Auction that the FCC intends to hold in 2016.

The move is not a huge surprise as Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) executives have previously suggested that the operator could sit the auction out. (See Sprint Might Sit Out 600MHz Spectrum Auction.)

"Sprint has the spectrum it needs to deploy its network architecture of the future," said CEO Marcelo Claure in a statement Saturday. (See Sprint Spend Slowing Ahead of Next Network Push – Analysts and Sprint CEO Claims Next-Gen Network Will Be #1.)

For more on LTE, visit the 4G LTE section here on Light Reading.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 's 600MHz Incentive Auction is expected to start at the end of March next year. The agency plans to pay TV broadcasters to vacate the low-band spectrum so it can be used for 4G wireless services and beyond. The spectrum is not expected to go cheap. (See The Big Spend on AWS Has Consequences.)

Sprint's move is likely good news for T-Mobile US Inc. , which has been bending the FCC's ear about access to the low-band spectrum for a while now. Sprint bowing out should make it easier for the magenta mavericks to get more spectrum. (See FCC Delays Incentive Auction Vote, FCC Auction Proposal Dings Dish, T-Mobile and FCC Chief: Keep Spectrum Open for Smaller Carriers.)

Unsurprisingly, T-Mobile's CEO, John Legere, has already piped up about the auction on Twitter:

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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