C-Band Auction Phase Ends at $80.9B, Easily Setting New Record

The C-band auction, which opened Dec. 8, closed at $80.9 billion in its first phase, not including roughly $13 billion in additional accelerated clearing payments. That's according to the FCC's auction website and to an agency announcement shortly after 1 p.m. EST Friday.

“This historic FCC auction is already a record-breaking success," said Chairman Ajit Pai. "Bidders have won all of the 5,684 spectrum blocks that were up for bid." Winning bidders can bid for frequency-specific licenses in the assignment phase of Auction 107.

This auction is the highest in the regulator's history, as we reported in an earlier news bulletin. The bidding eclipsed the AWS-3 auction five years ago. Pai noted the past record was $44.9 billion.

Verizon is expected to be the top bidder, followed by AT&T, T-Mobile, Dish Network and major cable companies. More will be known soon when the FCC releases its list of winning bidders.