Warning that prices paid will inhibit building of 5G infrastructure
The Financial Times carries an article by Eric Schmidt, in which the ex-Chairman and CEO of Google describes the recent 5G spectrum auction as a ‘digital setback’. A record $81 billion was raised overall, but the C-band auction, most useful to 5G, required no requirement to build infrastructure. The sums paid, argues Schmidt, will reduce the financial capacity of the bidders and result in disinvestment and downsizing. Americans will face higher prices and poorer services, in contrast to China which will soon have a national network of gigabit per second speeds. Future auctions must set stringent build requirements with penalties for underperformance, writes Schmidt.
The Financial Times carries an article by Eric Schmidt, in which the ex-Chairman and CEO of Google describes the recent 5G spectrum auction as a ‘digital setback’.
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