Giant Wireless Sale Offers 5G Spectrum Sliced Into 22,631 Pieces

The U.S. is moving into the new era of fast 5G wireless internet and the Muscatine Power & Water utility in Iowa wants to join the ride. So does the Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative Inc. that serves Kaktovik and Atqasuk in remote northern Alaska.

They are among more than 200 companies registered to bid in an unusual government auction set to begin July 23. At stake is potentially $10 billion worth of lucrative spectrum that can be used for wireless internet and is assigned by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission through competitive bidding.

The number of registered bidders makes ...