100+ Auctions
With experience in over 100 auctions, we’ve helped clients of every scale succeed — from global multinationals to small regional operators, and from resource-constrained regulators to those with large specialized auction teams.
Applications > Spectrum Auctions
Spectrum Auctions
We have decades of experience designing spectrum auctions and advising bidders.
Our work with regulators is focused on designing practical auction that balance many goals. For example, efficiency, competition, and revenues.
Our work with bidders is focused on decision-making, we help bidders prepare for any situation that may arise in a competitive auction.
30+ Countries
We have worked in many countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia We have experience advocating for our clients in all kinds of institutional environments
20k+ Citations
FMD was founded by Peter Cramton — one of the leading academic experits in auctions and market design. His work has been instrumental in the implementation of many auctions around the world.
Our bidder support services
| 1 | Regulatory support | Auction rules determine winners and losers. We can work with you to identify consequential rules and advocate for change if necessary. |
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| 2 | Auction analysis | A deep understanding of the rules, your situation, and goals – and those of your competitors – is fundamental to succeed in a competitive auction. |
| 3 | Strategy | We craft a detailed plan regardless of auction format: round-by-round moves, combinatorial bids, turn-based outcry bidding, etc. |
| 4 | Execution support | We ensure there are no mistakes and no surprises with comprehensive training, preparation, logistics and governance. |
Client Spotlight
Incentive Auction
The U.S. Incentive Auction offered broadcasting companies the opportunity to surrender their 600 MHz spectrum licenses in exchange for a competitive payment.
The team’s client participated in the auction and sold 10 licenses. The team helped the client from 2013 to 2017 on their business, regulatory, and auction strategy:
- In-depth analysis of valuation models and auction rules
- Drafting and submitting formal comments to the FCC
- Developing a comprehensive, round-by-round auction plan
The client obtained exceptional returns on their licenses.
- Germany, 2018
- 5G auction
- United States, 2020-2021
- 3.5GHz and 3.7GHz auctions
- Canada, 2018
- 600MHz auction
- French West Indies, 2024-25
- Six auctions
- Brazil, 2021 / Colombia, 2023
- 5G auctions
- Dominican Republic, 2021
- 700MGz and 3.5GHz auction
Our design and implementation services
| 1 | Goals setting | Regulators have many goals. We work with you to find compromises between competing goals such as efficiency, competition and revenue. |
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| 2 | Collaborative design | We work with multiple offices to incorporate legal, engineering, economic, and financial consideration into a single set of auction rules. |
| 3 | Bidder engagement | We can help you engage with bidders through consultation and training - making sure that all legitimate concerns are resolved and bidders have no uncertainty about rules. |
| 4 | Software | Our software is guaranteed to faithfully implement the auction rules and perform during the live auction. |
Client Spotlight
Canadian Spectrum Auction
Since 2007, Canadian regulators have used pro-competitive measures such as set-asides and spectrum caps to balance competition and efficiency in the allocation of spectrum licenses.
The design and academic work of Peter Cramton was fundamental to implement these measures in 2008.
ISED had continued using these type of measures to allocate spectrum in most recent auctions, including the allocation of 3500 MHz spectrum for 5G.
- United Kingdom, 2021 - Present
- 5G auctions
- Thailand, 2019 - Present
- 5G auctions
- Netherlands, 2018 - Present
- 5G auctions
- Australia, 2018 - 2021
- 4G auctions
To learn more about how we can help you bid in or design a spectrum auction, reach out to Hector Lopez at [email protected].