FCC Reaps More Than US$3.5bn From AWS-3 Spectrum Auction

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that its AWS-3 spectrum received bids exceeding US$3.5bn. It adds that it is on schedule to meet Congress’s deadline to have a competitive bidding system for at least 100MHz in the Upper C-Band by July 2027.

The auction covered 200 spectrum licenses in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands.

All three of the country’s national mobile operators – AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon – were present within the list of 17 qualified bidders, as was SpaceX. 

Update – 27 June 2026

The FCC revealed the winners on 26 June 2026. Verizon was by far the biggest buyer, spending US$3.16bn for 82 licences - representing 88.5% of the auction’s gross proceeds. Three of its purchases – in New York and Chicago – together cost a staggering US$1.7bn, 47.6% of the US$3.57bn raised in total by the auction.

T-Mobile came away with the largest number of licences, spending nearly US$278m on 102 licences. AT&T spent almost US$120.8m on 10 licences. Of the 200 licences that were up for auction, the big three operators bought 194.

SpaceX picked two licences for a total of US$8.49m.

A case of recycling

“Most of the licenses up for grabs in this auction are essentially ‘recycled,’” notes Mike Dano, Lead Industry Analyst at Ookla on LinkedIn. “They were originally won back in 2014 during Auction 97 by smaller entities backed by Dish Network – now EchoStar. 

“However, the FCC stripped Dish of US$3.3bn in small-business bidding discounts, prompting Dish to default on the licenses and hand them back.”

What will be done with the funds?

The vast majority of the proceeds from the auction – US$3.3bn – will fund the FCC’s ‘rip and replace’ programme – more formally known as the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program  – along with other programmes run by the Commerce Department. 

The rip and replace scheme reimburses operators for the costs associated with removing and replacing communications equipment from vendors deemed a security risk. The FCC recently reported that an estimated 42% of communications providers under the scheme have completed disposing of all the mandated equipment. 

The FCC is working to deliver 800MHz of spectrum as set out by President Donald Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut Act. 

“After years on the sidelines, FCC auctions are finally back,” says FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. “Today’s successful auction generated billions of dollars in competitive bids to put spectrum to effective commercial use, and it bolsters competition in the wireless marketplace. We will carry this momentum forward as we prepare for the Upper C-Band auction in the year ahead.

“Spectrum auctions are the lifeblood of licensed wireless service. More spectrum means lower prices and stronger competition. I thank the many FCC team members who made the success of this auction possible through their hard work and expertise.”