GLOBAUCAL stands for GLOBAL AUCTION ALERT.

The aim of this site is to provide quality information related to spectrum auctions.

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This site will provide information:

(a) On current, upcoming and past radio spectrum auctions around the world

(b) On topics more or less related to radio spectrum auctions.

At this time, the content of the site is modest. The objective is to enrich it gradually, partly with the help of a growing network of individuals around the world who have a real interest in spectrum issues; be they from government / regulatory agencies, from academia, from industry or from the financial sector. A number of international institutions also play a role in this area.

As is well known, Ronald COASE¹is credited with introducing in 1959 the concept of auctioning radio frequencies. It took though another 35 years until the first such auction was held, namely by the FCC²for Personal Communications Services in the U.S. Since then, a number of governments used spectrum auctions, others did not: the fact is that the world, even the Western world, is still divided with respect to the belief that auctions are the best method to award spectrum - e.g. radio based licences - to using bodies, typically telecommunications operators; or regarding the circumstances in which auctions are the best method.

In our observation, there is clearly a trend towards auctions (i.e. away from "beauty contests") which makes the scope of this site all the more important. The fact that those who decide on spectrum strategy at the highest level are also those collecting auction proceeds – the national States – certainly plays its role: spectrum fees are typically much lower than auction proceeds. On the other hand, there are growing trends towards unlicensed spectrum and open spectrum schemes, which clearly do not imply auctions.

This site does not have the ambition to be exhaustive on any aspect of spectrum auctions. It furthermore has no commercial objective and there is no intent to advertize on it. Its only aim is, in the general interest, to improve and spread the understanding of a highly complex topic with enormous implications, mainly of an economic and social nature. Radio communications will continue to expand in many ways, and this is possible only owing to some form of spectrum management, of which auctions are an important tool.

Any comments or questions should be addressed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (in English, French, German, Spanish or Swedish).

1 Of British origin, the economist Ronald COASE had emigrated to the U.S. in 1951, where he later joined the University of Chicago. He was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1991.

2 The Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. regulator.