Anterix Inc. operates as a wireless communications company.
The company focuses on commercializing its spectrum assets to enable its targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers to deploy private broadband networks, technologies, and solutions.
The company is the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band (896-901/935-940 MHz) with nationwide coverage throughout the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. The company engages in qualifying for and securi...
Anterix Inc. operates as a wireless communications company.
The company focuses on commercializing its spectrum assets to enable its targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers to deploy private broadband networks, technologies, and solutions.
The company is the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band (896-901/935-940 MHz) with nationwide coverage throughout the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. The company engages in qualifying for and securing broadband licenses from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It is also actively pursuing opportunities to lease the broadband spectrum it secures to its targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers.
Spectrum Assets
The company owns licenses nationwide, including on average, approximately 66% of the 399 channels in the 900 MHz band in the top 20 metropolitan market areas in the United States, which cover approximately 38% of the U.S. population.
In the 900 MHz band, the FCC historically allocated approximately 10 MHz of spectrum, sub-divided into 40 10-channel blocks (for a total of 399 contiguous channels) alternating between blocks designated for the operation of Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) commercial systems and blocks designated for B/ILT (systems operated by, or spectrum licensed for, private land mobile use by business users), with the FCC’s rules also enabling B/ILT licenses to be converted to SMR use.
Broadband licenses: During the year ended March 31, 2022, the company applied for, and was granted by the FCC, broadband licenses for 21 counties. As a result, k relinquished to the FCC its narrowband licenses and made the necessary Anti-Windfall payments for the same 21 counties as required by the Report and Order (the Report and Order approved by the FCC on May 13, 2020).
Long-Term Leases of 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum
Ameren Corporation (Ameren) Agreements: In December 2020, the company entered into its first long-term 900 MHz broadband spectrum lease agreements (the ‘Ameren Agreements’) covering Ameren’s service territories. The Ameren Agreements will enable Ameren to deploy a private LTE (PLTE) network in its service territories in Missouri and Illinois, covering approximately 7.5 million people. Each Ameren Agreement is for a term of up to 40 years, including an initial term of 30 years, with a 10-year renewal option for an additional payment. The company is working with incumbents to clear the 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum allocation in Ameren’s service territory. In August 2021, the FCC granted the first 900 MHz broadband licenses to the company for several counties in Ameren’s service territory, for which the Ameren Agreements were also subsequently approved by the FCC.
Evergy Agreement: In September 2021, the company entered into a long-term lease agreement of 900 MHz broadband spectrum with Evergy Services, Inc. (Evergy), (the ‘Evergy Agreement’). The Evergy service territories covered by the Evergy Agreement are in Kansas and Missouri with a population of approximately 3.9 million people. The Evergy Agreement is for a term of up to 40 years, including an initial term of 20 years with two 10-year renewal options for additional payments. The company is working with incumbents to clear the 900 MHz broadband spectrum allocation covered by the Evergy Agreement.
The Sale of 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum
SDG&E Agreement: In February 2021, the company entered into an agreement with SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric Company, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy) to sell 900 MHz broadband spectrum throughout SDG&E’s California service territory, including San Diego and Imperial Counties and portions of Orange County (the ‘SDG&E Agreement’). The SDG&E Agreement will support the SDG&E’s deployment of a PLTE network for its California service territory, with a population of approximately 3.6 million people. As part of the SDG&E Agreement, SDG&E and the company are collaborating to accelerate the utility industry momentum for private networks. The SDG&E Agreement includes the assignment of 6 MHz of 900 MHz broadband spectrum, 936.5 – 939.5 MHz paired with 897.5 – 900.5 MHz, within SDG&E’s service territory following the FCC’s issuance of the broadband licenses to the company.
Motorola Lease
In 2014, the company entered into an agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. (Motorola) to lease a portion of its 900 MHz licenses in exchange for an upfront, fully paid lease fee. Additionally, Motorola invested in the company’s subsidiary, PDV Spectrum Holding Company, LLC, which the company formed to hold its 900 MHz spectrum licenses. Under the terms of this lease agreement with Motorola, Motorola can use the leased channels to provide narrowband services to certain qualified end-users. The end-users can only use the leased channels for their internal communication purposes. Motorola cannot enter contracts with end-users after December 31, 2020, involving the new leases of spectrum from the company without its consent and the payment of an additional fee.
Business Strategy
The key elements of the company's strategy converting its nationwide narrowband 900 MHz spectrum position to broadband, including securing broadband licenses and clearing covered incumbents. The key elements of the company's strategy also include deploying its commercial business offering, including continuing to build the customer pipeline, building support with federal and state agencies, developing a roadmap for expanded services, enabling the Anterix Active Ecosystem with U.S. Band 8 (also known as the E-GSM band, or 880 - 915 MHz paired with 925 - 960 MHz), and identifying and evaluating new opportunities for its spectrum.
Regulation
The company holds FCC spectrum licenses in the 900 MHz band throughout the contiguous United States, as well as Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. The FCC regulates the company’s wireless spectrum holdings, the issuance of broadband licenses in the 900 MHz band in accordance with the Report and Order, its future leasing or the sale of any broadband licenses it secures, and the future construction and operation of wireless networks, technologies and solutions utilizing its spectrum assets.
The company is authorized to provide its wireless communication services on specified frequencies within specified geographic areas and in doing so must comply with the rules, regulations and policies adopted by the FCC. The Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and FCC rules and regulations require the company to obtain the FCC’s prior approval before assigning or transferring control of wireless licenses, with limited exceptions. The FCC’s rules and regulations also govern spectrum lease arrangements for a range of wireless radio service licenses, including the licenses it holds.
Competition
The company’s competitors include Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
History
The company was incorporated in California in 1997 and reincorporated in Delaware in 2014. The company was formerly known as Pacific DataVision, Inc. and changed its name to pdvWireless, Inc. in 2015. Further, the company changed its name to Anterix Inc. in 2019.