Ina Fried

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Sprint Won’t Bid in Upcoming Spectrum Auction

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iStockphoto | italianestro

Sprint won’t bid in an upcoming Federal Communications Commission auction for a chunk of wireless spectrum known as the “H Block.”

“Sprint is focused on gaining access to more low-band spectrum to add to the company’s spectrum portfolio, so we have opted not to participate in the upcoming H Block auction,” a Sprint representative said in a statement Wednesday.

Instead, the company will use existing spectrum holdings to create its higher-speed Sprint Spark service, which it hopes to have up and running in 100 large U.S. cities by the end of 2016.

Many saw Sprint as the most likely bidder for the H block, since it has a nationwide license for adjacent spectrum — though all four major U.S. carriers also have licenses within the general vicinity. Dish Networks remains another potential bidder.

The FCC said in September that it was going ahead with a January auction of the H Block, though Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel wanted to see it paired with additional spectrum.

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