Subj: WNP Communications the Top Winner in Latest FCC Auction:...
Date: 98-03-25 11:04:17 EST
WNP Communications the Top Winner in Latest FCC Auction: 40 Licenses Covering 114 Million People With Over 1000 MHz Capacity
WNP to Be the World's Largest Corporate Holder of Wireless Spectrum
EARLYSVILLE, Va., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- WNP Communications, Inc., a new competitive entrant in broadband communications, was named today by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as the winning bidder for 40 wireless licenses that, when granted, will make WNP the largest corporate holder of wireless spectrum in the world, according to the company. The FCC's announcement marked the conclusion of the auction for LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Service), a new service allowing wireless communication of data, voice, and video at speeds comparable to those previously achievable only with fiber optic lines.
The multiple-round auction, which began on February 18 and continued for 128 rounds, offered 139 qualified bidders the opportunity to compete for two licenses -- one large and one small -- in each of 493 markets (known as Basic Trading Areas, or BTAs) for radio spectrum in the 28 GHz and 31 GHz microwave bands. The smaller license, known as the "B-band," has a capacity of 150 MHz. The larger "A-band" license is for 1150 MHz of spectrum, by far the largest capacity of any license auctioned to date. By comparison, the LMDS A-band license is approximately 40 times the capacity of cellular and PCS licenses, which are for 25 MHz and 30 MHz.
Thomas H. Jones, WNP's founder and president, commented, "WNP's principals are industry veterans with a track record of building successful communications companies. In developing our business plan over the past year, we looked upon LMDS as representing an unprecedented opportunity to break new ground in wireless services. In particular, the 1150 MHz capacity of the A- band allows speeds that no other wireless license can approach. Of our winnings, 98 percent is in this large band."
"In addition, our licenses cover the most attractive markets in the country. We have more than 91 percent of the population in the top 12 markets, and more than two-thirds of the pops in the top 75 markets," Mr. Jones said.
WNP was the top winner in the LMDS auction in terms of spectrum, top markets, and population:
* 41 percent of the total A-block spectrum won in the auction -- 3.4 times the spectrum of the second largest winner.
* 37 percent of the overall spectrum (A-block and B-block) -- 2.5 times the spectrum of the second largest winner.
* 11 of the top 12 markets -- including the A-block license in 1O of the top 12 markets.
* 30 of the top 50 markets -- including the A-block license in 29 of those markets.
* 114 million "pops" (population within the license areas) -- including 98 million pops of A-band licenses (based on 1998 estimated population).
* An average of more than 1000 MHz of spectrum per pop.
* $186.9 million of winning bids.
WNP Communications, Inc., based in Earlysville, Virginia, just outside of Charlottesville, is a privately-held broadband communications company. It is led by a team of veteran entrepreneurs with experience in telecommunications, data networking, wireless technologies, and finance. Founder and president Thomas H. Jones is president of New Venture Directions, Inc., a consulting company specializing in emerging communications companies. He previously held officer and director positions for several communications equipment companies and served as the first president and chairman of The Frame Relay Forum. Other WNP principals include Royce J. Holland, CEO of Allegiance Telecom, Inc., and former president of MFS Communications Company; Trygve Myhren, president of Myhren Media, Inc., former president of The Providence Journal Company, and former CEO of what is now Time/Warner Cable; and Curtis J. Wilson, Jr., president of Galan Corporation and a private investment manager. Minority investments are held by private investors.
SOURCE WNP Communications, Inc.
CO: WNP Communications, Inc.
ST: Virginia, District of Columbia
IN: TLS
SU:
03/25/98 10:59 EST prnewswire.com |
