The company logo for AT&T is displayed on a screen at the New York Stock Exchange NYSE in New York, September 18, 2019, New York, U.S. REUTERS Brendan McDermid File Photo
WASHINGTON, Jan 14, Reuters -- AT&T Inc led bidders in the Federal Communications Commission FCC 5 G spectrum auction of 3.45 GHz band spectrum, winning $9 billion in bids, the U.S. regulator said on Friday.
The auction generated $22.5 billion in total, according to the FCC. T-Mobile TMUS.O won $2.9 billion, while Weminuche LLC won $7.3 billion, which some analysts and FCC documents suggest that the bid is on behalf of Dish DISH.O Dish, which was not immediately commented on Friday, but confirmed in November it had filed to participate in the auction.
The FCC said that over one-third of the top 100 markets have at least four winning bidders, a broader range than a prior auction. It said that the broader range and distribution of winning bidders will increase competition by providing a variety of wireless carriers with the midband spectrum resources needed to maintain American leadership in 5 G.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said that a commercial use of this spectrum is important for America s continuing economic recovery and 5 G leadership.