Sprint passes on premium spectrum

Sprint says it will not take part in next year’s 600 MHz auction in the USA. In a press statement, CEO Marcelo Claure says: “Sprint has the spectrum it needs to deploy its network architecture of the future.” Instead of beefing up its airwave portfolio, the company says it will focus on improving services on the frequencies …

[Anonymous Coward]

So why is Sprint publically dropping out?

Wouldn't it be better to stay in the race to force up the price for the other bidders, even if it has no interest in purchasing itself?

[Fatman]

Re: So why is Sprint publically dropping out?

<quote>Wouldn't it be better to stay in the race to force up the price for the other bidders, even if it has no interest in purchasing itself?</quote>

But, one has to allow for the possibility that you may end up holding the bag (spectrum) that you were not interested in the first place.

That auction may be like the """Game""" in War Games (imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086567/ ) where the only way to win, is not to play at all .

[ecarlseen]

Understatement

To say that Sprint already has a lot of spectrum is an understatement. Even taking into account the utility of higher-versus-lower frequencies they have massively more spectrum in the US than any other carrier. To the point where if they did get the new spectrum they may get into FTC competitive monopoly trouble (not likely to lose that battle, but a possibility). Now if they can just get their network built out to take advantage of it...