The 28GHz auction continues, as the FCC expects to open up almost 5GHz of millimeter wave spectrum for 5G in 2019 and beyond.

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

December 17, 2018

1 Min Read
FCC 28GHz 5G Auction Hits $688.7M

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 28GHz 5G auction has hit $688.7 million this Monday (December 17), as the agency prepares for a "major" millimeter spectrum auction in 2019.

The FCC's auction dashboard chocked up $688,674,920 in total bids on Monday. The FCC now has 2,939 28GHz licenses with provisionally winning bids (PWBs) and 133 licenses left for sale. (See The FCC's 5G Auction Rolls On.)

The 28GHz auction is going on as the FCC has cleared the way for another 5G auction sometime in 2019. The FCC said last Wednesday (December 12) that it is planning "a major 5G spectrum auction in 2019," that combines the upper 37GHz, 39GHz and 47GHz millimeter wave bands, and will be held as an incentive auction to help clear the airwaves of satellite users. (See FCC Plans Major Spectrum Auction in 2019.)

A 24GHz auction is expected to follow hard on the heels of the 28GHz auction, and then the 37GHz/39GHz and 47GHz combination later in 2019. This likely means that the FCC will be dealing with auctions to open up nearly 5GHz of fresh bandwidth in high bands that haven't been used for wireless broadband before.

Meanwhile, the FCC says it will close down the 28GHz auction at 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 21, and re-open the auction at 10:00 a.m. ET on Jan. 3, 2019.

— 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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