Dish Networks is looking to win control over bankrupt LightSquared’s spectrum assets in an auction scheduled for December. A judge will set initial terms for an auction of LightSquared’s assets on Monday.
Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen has been acquiring LightSquared’s debt on the side, which gives him a say in how the auction of the failed company’s spectrum assets is handled. If Dish comes to own LightSquared’s L-Band satellite spectrum, it will be in a better position to make a play as a wireless network operator. Earlier this year, Dish failed to acquire Clearwire and Sprint, which it wanted for their spectrum assets. Dish believes it can use LightSquared’s L-Band spectrum for uplink operations while using its existing spectrum assets for downlink operations.
Dish wants to become a mobile network company, and this may be the opportunity that helps it achieve that goal.
