AT&T’s Best Bet to Catch 5G Rivals Begins With Airwaves Auction

AT&T gets a chance to close a 5G airwaves gap with its rivals as bidding begins in a US auction of frequencies for ultrafast wireless service that’s expected to attract $25 billion in bids. The third-largest US wireless carrier is predicted to be the top bidder in the spectrum auction run by the Federal Communications Commission. Mobile leaders Verizon and T-Mobile are also ready to take part in the sale that starts October 5, as is Dish Network. The airwaves being sold are in the 3.45-3.55 GHz range, and are known as midband frequencies. They can carry rich information streams rapidly and over distances, making them ideal for 5G’s data-intensive services. The sale comes as AT&T tries to reorient itself toward 5G mobile services and fiber-delivered broadband, and away from the $100 billion TV and media businesses it acquired under previous management. With the spinoff of DirecTV and the pending separation of its WarnerMedia business, Chief Executive Officer John Stankey has vowed to return the phone giant to its roots as a network operator. Overall bidding needs to top $14.8 billion to reimburse the government for costs to move some of its wireless services out of the airwaves being sold, in order to avoid interference.