At the end of 2021, the FCC took in $21.8 billion during an auction of mid-band 3.45GHz licenses. AT&T was the big winner capturing the top bid on 1,624 licenses in 406 Partial Economic Areas (PEAs). T-Mobile won 199 licenses in 79 PEAs. Originally, the carrier asked to modify the experimental authorization it previously received in January to test these mid-band airwaves in Dallas, New York City, and Kansas City, Missouri by adding Seattle to the list.
T-Mobile still wants authorization to test 3.45GHz spectrum in Seattle
T-Mobile says that its experimental testing of the 3.45GHz spectrum in Seattle would not affect other wireless operators. Both Whitewater Wireless, which holds the C block license, and AT&T, owner of the D block license, had no objections to T-Mobile testing the 3.45GHz airwaves in the city. T-Mobile’s experimental testing will overlap with the Bremerton, Washington area where the 3.45GHz band is employed by federal users. Bremerton is home to the Naval Base Kitsap but the Defense Department says it will not be affected.
