In October, T-Mobile and Dish struck a deal where T-Mobile agreed to extend the option for Dish to buy 800MHz spectrum until April 1st, 2024, for $100 million. However, it seems like Dish won’t be meeting that deadline, despite already shelling out the $100 million. According to T-Mobile CFO Peter Osvaldik, if Dish doesn’t go through with the purchase by April 1st (which they have confirmed they won’t), T-Mobile will have to put the airwaves up for auction.

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

– Dish informed the SEC that it will not exercise its $3.59 billion option to buy 13.5MHz of 800MHz low-band spectrum.
– If Dish doesn’t buy the spectrum, T-Mobile will have to conduct an auction by fall.
– The FCC will determine who can participate in the bidding process.
– AT&T and Verizon may be interested in the spectrum as it is adjacent to their current holdings.
– However, there are restrictions on selling the airwaves to other national mobile network operators without government approval due to agreements made during T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint.

Other entities like Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company and Anterix are also eyeing the spectrum for potential use in providing wireless services.

If Dish does indeed pass up on buying the 800MHz spectrum, T-Mobile will step in as the auctioneer – a role typically held by the FCC. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story!