Canadian Industry Minister Jim Prentice announced yesterday that the government is already planning its next spectrum auction. It just wrapped up an auction for spectrum in the 2GHz range, netting about CAD$4.25 billion. This next auction is likely to take place in the next year and a half and will offer up spectrum in the 700MHz range.
The 700MHz auction could prove to be even more lucrative for the government as the range can cover greater distance and penetrates obstacles like thick walls and buildings more easily. Prentice described the 700-series spectrum as “highly prized.”
A similar auction in the U.S. last year yielded over USD$19 billion for the U.S. government.