The advanced wireless spectrum auction is heating up and Verizon Wireless is starting to show its size. At the end of 14 rounds Verizon Wireless is the top bidder for the top six spectrum licenses. The price tag for that air is currently $3.5 billion, but the auction is far from over and prices are still rising rapidly.
T-Mobile lead the pack in the first round but has fallen behind since. Discount carriers MetroPCS and Cricket have both been active. Overall the auction currently has $7.3 billion in bids. Insiders have said the total could push $15 billion when all is said in done.
|
Top 10 Highest Bidders by the end of Round 14 |
| Bidders |
Net total of high bids |
| 1. Verizon Wireless |
$3.5 billion |
| 2. MetroPCS |
$1.2 billion |
| 3. Cricket |
$801 million |
| 4. SpectrumCo |
$619 million |
| 5. Denali Spectrum |
$316 million |
| 6. Cingular |
$136 million |
| 7. Barat Wireless |
$131 million |
| 8. T-Mobile |
$103 million |
| 9. Dolan Family |
$79 million |
| 10. Atlantic Wireless |
$44 million |
|