The majority of the AWS, or Advanced Wireless Services spectrum, was auctioned off by the FCC in the AWS I auction in 2006. T-Mobile was the major winner there, but some smaller carriers like Cricket and MetroPCS won enough spectrum, that this year they began deploying all AWS markets. T-Mobile USA uses the AWS spectrum for their 3G network.

The remaining spectrum is from 2155MHz-2180MHz, this is the upper end of the downlink portion of the AWS spectrum. That is 25MHz more downlink for a carrier to use, which is a significant amount of spectrum for data and voice services. AWS is paired with the 1700MHz band, which is for uplink. It is referred to as 1700MHz commonly, because the two AWS bands would not work unless they are paired, so it is commonly referred to, and is technically, one band.

Potential buyers for the spectrum include T-Mobile, MetroPCS, and Cricket. T-Mobile may figure they have enough AWS spectrum already, and sit this one out. The FCC has mandated some interesting rules for this spectrum. The winner mist provide broadband wireless services on this spectrum to at least 50% of the population by 4 years after the spectrum is sold. By the time the license expires, the rules state it must provide 95% of the population with wireless broadband on that spectrum.

[Via Phone News]