The most recent U.S spectrum sale has apparently ended, with carriers dishing out a record $13.9 billion for advanced wireless services. Reuters is reporting that T-Mobile USA topped the bidding by offering almost $4.2 billion for 120 licenses.

 

Verizon Wireless has been second in the bidding, offering over $2.8 billion for 13 licenses that include the northeast and southeast U.S.

 

Cable companies too have been very keen bidders for the available spectrum.

 

The three largest U.S. cable operators have offered more than $2.3 billion for airwaves in an auction, a slice big enough to create a new national wireless network.

 

SpectrumCo LLC, a consortium of cablecos that earlier this year announced a partnership with Sprint, successfully bid for 132 of the licenses including those in highly populated areas in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

 

Cablevision itself tendered more than $270 million in bids in its local area.

 

The newly available spectrum will help the cable companies to offer the so-called quadruple play of services, adding wireless to a bundle that already includes voice, video, and high-speed Internet access.