AWS-3 Prices Show High Value Carriers Are Putting on Spectrum in Era of Video, Guggenheim Analyst Says

The unexpectedly high prices in the AWS-3 auction may reflect carrier recognition that unlike the TV incentive auction, the AWS spectrum will be immediately available for use, with none of the same uncertainties, Guggenheim Partners analyst Paul Gallant told us in an email. “Hard to say why everyone missed it by so much, but it’s pretty remarkable what’s happened on pricing,” Gallant said. “It could be that only carriers themselves truly see where mobile and video are taking the Internet. And AWS is a bird in the hand. There’s plenty of hopefulness around the broadcast auction, but AWS is here and now, which is powerful.”