Google Doesn’t Buy Any 700 MHz Spectrum

In a strange turn of events, Google didn’t buy any of the 700MHz spectrum at the FCC auctions. Seems the big winner was Verizon which grabbed a bunch of what was up for bids. Next came AT&T which also did quite well for itself. So what happened to Google?

Well according to the SF Chronicle Google didn’t want to win any auctions. It just wanted to make sure the eventual winner would open the network to any device or application. The article goes on to state:

Google, though, got what it wanted. The search giant pushed the FCC for open access rules for the C block to ensure that the eventual winner would open up the network to any device or application. To trigger the rules, the bidding had to reach the C block reserve price of $4.6 billion. It appears Google went up to that point and then backed off allowing Verizon to win the auction. That ensures that Google’s mobile applications will make their way easily to Verizon’s network.

So what does this all mean for you? Well, it looks like a lot of big name players just added to their spectrum holdings. The possibility of an upstart wireless data provider emerging now seems to have passed us by. We should see some cool and fast data networks from Verizon Wireless and AT&T that will eventually compete with Sprint’s WiMAX network. And that could provide customers another alternative to DSL and cable.

So I guess all those rumors about Google doing the wi-fi phone stuff may be ending. Or does Google has some other trick up its sleeve? One can only hope that they do.

Comments welcome.

Complete Chronicle article is here.

Full FCC auctions results are here.

Tags: fcc, google, spectrum, phone, wi-fi, trick, verizon, at&t, cell,