Following its unexpected entrance and win in the Federal Communications Commission's recent 700Mhz spectrum auction, direct broadcast satellite TV operator Dish Network may be mulling the launch of a nationwide mobile TV service. Dish Network-owned Frontier Wireless successfully bid $712 million for licenses in the so-called "E" block, which spans 168 U.S. metropolitan markets. Because the spectrum does not allow for two-way communication services, analysts argue the acquisition positions the firm to introduce a broadcast service like mobile video. "We suspect Dish bid on E block spectrum to build a wireless video network, rather than a data or voice network," writes Citigroup Global analyst Jason Bazinet in a note to investors. "We were surprised Dish entered the auction and more surprised it emerged as a big winner." According to Bazinet, rolling out a nationwide mobile TV network could cost Dish between $3 billion and $5 billion. 

For more on Dish Network's mobile future:
- read this Financial Times article [1]

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