The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concluded its AWS-3 spectrum auction with more than $3.5 billion in gross winning bids, marking the agency’s first major spectrum auction following a four-year gap. The auction underscores continued demand for licensed mid-band spectrum and returns previously unused wireless assets to the commercial market.
Auction 113 began on June 2, 2026, and concluded after 72 rounds of bidding involving 17 qualified participants. The FCC offered 200 licenses in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands. These licenses stemmed from bid defaults and withdrawals associated with the original 2014 AWS-3 auction and had remained unused in the FCC’s inventory for more than a decade. The auction generated more than $3.5 billion in proceeds while moving the spectrum into productive commercial use.
The FCC said up to $3.3 billion of the proceeds will support the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, commonly known as the “rip and replace” initiative, along with certain Department of Commerce programs. Auction 113 also marked the debut of the FCC’s new auction application platform. Looking ahead, the Commission remains on schedule to conduct an Upper C-Band auction by July 2027 as part of a broader plan to make 800 MHz of additional spectrum available by 2034.
• Gross winning bids exceeded $3.5 billion
• 17 qualified bidders participated
• Auction ran for 72 bidding rounds
• 200 AWS-3 licenses were offered
• Spectrum bands included:
• 1695-1710 MHz
• 1755-1780 MHz
• 2155-2180 MHz
• Licenses originated from bid defaults and withdrawals in the 2014 AWS-3 auction
• Up to $3.3 billion will support the FCC’s “rip and replace” program and other federal initiatives
• Auction 113 debuted the FCC’s new auction management platform
• FCC plans to complete an Upper C-Band auction by July 2027
• FCC spectrum roadmap targets 800 MHz of additional spectrum by 2034
• Auction information: https://www.fcc.gov/auction/113
“After years on the sidelines, FCC auctions are finally back. Today’s successful auction generated billions of dollars in competitive bids to put spectrum to effective commercial use, and it bolsters competition in the wireless marketplace. We will carry this momentum forward as we prepare for the Upper C-Band auction in the year ahead,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
🌐 Analysis
The AWS-3 auction demonstrates that demand for licensed mid-band spectrum remains strong as operators continue expanding 5G networks and planning for future 6G deployments. Mid-band frequencies remain particularly attractive because they provide a balance between coverage and capacity, making them well suited for nationwide mobile broadband services.
The successful completion of Auction 113 also restores momentum to the FCC’s spectrum auction program following the lapse in auction authority that halted new auctions for several years. Industry attention now shifts to the forthcoming Upper C-Band auction, which is expected to play a significant role in expanding U.S. wireless capacity and supporting next-generation mobile, fixed wireless access, and emerging AI-driven applications.
| FCC Auction 113: AWS-3 Spectrum Blocks | ||
| The auction covered 200 licenses in paired and unpaired AWS-3 mid-band spectrum that remained in FCC inventory after defaults or withdrawals from the 2014 AWS-3 auction. | ||
| Band Segment | Frequency Range | Role in AWS-3 |
| 1695-1710 MHz | 15 MHz | Unpaired uplink Supplemental uplink spectrum supporting mobile broadband capacity. |
| 1755-1780 MHz | 25 MHz | Paired uplink Uplink block paired with 2155-2180 MHz for AWS-3 mobile service. |
| 2155-2180 MHz | 25 MHz | Paired downlink Downlink block paired with 1755-1780 MHz for licensed mobile broadband. |
| Auction scope: 200 AWS-3 licenses across these bands, generating more than $3.5 billion in gross winning bids. | ||
| Official FCC auction page: https://www.fcc.gov/auction/113 | ||
