Verizon to go big in C-band auction

[Jack Hagar]

It's finally over! total just under $81 billion

Assuming Verizon want all 100 MHz of A category licenses and then 100 MHz everywhere That would be $30.3 billion not counting their share of the $13 billion in relocation and accelerated clearing payments. Now there will be an assignment phase where winners can bid on specific blocks. This is unlikely to start until next Thursday and I wouldn't be shocked if it didn't start until Monday the 25th. This could take a couple of weeks. Hopefully not. If Verion got all the A category then there wouldn't be any need for bidding on those blocks. So could be as late as mid February before we know anything but I don't see anything being known before say the 29th of Jan.

[vzwtgt]

I was reading the predictions are around 36 for Verizon, maybe they did go for 140?

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[Jack Hagar]

I was reading the predictions are around 36 for Verizon, maybe they did go for 140?

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

140 MHz would cost around $41 billion and that's not counting their share of the $13 billion relocation costs and any extra money spent on bidding for specific frequencies. So 140 MHz would end up costing closer to $50 billion and I just don't see that happening

[vzwtgt]

140 MHz would cost around $41 billion and that's not counting their share of the $13 billion relocation costs and any extra money spent on bidding for specific frequencies. So 140 MHz would end up costing closer to $50 billion and I just don't see that happening

Ahh gotcha yea I would agree then

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[Checker79]

140 MHz would cost around $41 billion and that's not counting their share of the $13 billion relocation costs and any extra money spent on bidding for specific frequencies. So 140 MHz would end up costing closer to $50 billion and I just don't see that happening

Agreed. That would break the bank for them. Perhaps they bought 100 MHz nationwide on average ( maybe a few markets 120 MHz )

[Jack Hagar]

Agreed. That would break the bank for them. Perhaps they bought 100 MHz nationwide on average ( maybe a few markets 120 MHz )

An extra 20 MHz in the 357 PEAs outside the top 50 would only cost about $1 billion vs $4.5 billion to get an extra 20 MHz in the top 50 PEAs( not counting Honolulu which is CBAND not being sold at all ). Which goes to show how valuable those markets are. Verion did buy 30-40 MHz of CBRS in most of the top 50 markets. Not going to be used for 5G for awhile and not quite as good because of power restrictions but should still help lower congestion anyway. Also there is the 3450-3550 MHz auction this year which should be cheaper on a per MHz basis. So Verizon could nab an extra 20-60 MHz in markets there. Hopefully since this is likely coming after the 2.5 GHz auction which T-Mobile certainly will participate in and whatever T-Mobile gets in the c-band auction they'll be blocked form bidding in the 3450-3550 MHz auction. Which should keep pricing lower.

[WiredGuy]

When will we know the results?

[Jack Hagar]

When will we know the results?

There is still an assignment phase to be conducted and that hasn't even been announced yet. Probably mid February at the earliest

[Jack Hagar]

Assignment phase begins February 8th. Looks like maybe the end of February at the earliest before we find out anything

[SoNic67]

When will we know the results?

Knowing how government works, probably middle of March.

[Jack Hagar]

Knowing how government works, probably middle of March.

Did you not read the post above yours?

[@TheRealDanny]

Did you not read the post above yours?

Thanks for keeping on top of this.

Most of this stuff goes way over my level of understanding.




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[Jack Hagar]

Thanks for keeping on top of this.

Most of this stuff goes way over my level of understanding.

No problem. After nearly 7 years of watching these auctions I hope I learned a thing or 2. I'm hoping there is not much participation in assignment phase as I fail to see much difference in where someone is located. The lone exception is if someone has spectrum in the upper end of the A blocks and would naturally want the low end of the BC blocks( of they bid on any ) to have contiguous spectrum. Other than that what does it matter? If someone bought one block in the ABC category does it really matter if it's 3800-3820 MHz or 3960-3980 MHz? Especially since it's going to cost extra to get a specific placement

[Checker79]

No problem. After nearly 7 years of watching these auctions I hope I learned a thing or 2. I'm hoping there is not much participation in assignment phase as I fail to see much difference in where someone is located. The lone exception is if someone has spectrum in the upper end of the A blocks and would naturally want the low end of the BC blocks( of they bid on any ) to have contiguous spectrum. Other than that what does it matter? If someone bought one block in the ABC category does it really matter if it's 3800-3820 MHz or 3960-3980 MHz? Especially since it's going to cost extra to get a specific placement

What would Verizon had to spend if they went for 120-140 MHz nationwide? The latter number is a stretch

[Jack Hagar]

What would Verizon had to spend if they went for 120-140 MHz nationwide? The latter number is a stretch

Not counting their share of the $13 bil in accelerated clearing payments and relocation costs, 120 MHz would be about $37 billion and 140 MHz would be $41 bil