Sprint Says It Won’t Take Part in US Airwaves Auction

Sprint is the only major US wireless-service carrier intending to pass on an auction of frequencies designed to accommodate data-guzzling smartphones.

A spokesman confirmed that Sprint won’t participate in the November sale, which the Federal Communications Commission expects to be the largest since a $19 billion auction in 2008. Verizon Communications., AT&T, and T-Mobile US all said they’re interested in bidding. “Sprint really has a lot more spectrum than its rivals, so they don’t have that pressing need to get more,” said John Butler, a senior telecommunications analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence. In addition, Sprint doesn’t hold airwaves that would be easily compatible with the frequencies to be offered, he said.