MetroPCS (PCS), a Dallas, Texas-based regional wireless carrier, is looking to jump into the fray for the 700 MHz spectrum, reports Om Malik. The company said this morning that it will raise $300 million to finance its spectrum purchase.

The company spent $1.4 billion to acquire licensees in last year’s AWS auctions, and is currently sitting on spectrum that covers 135 million POPs including lucrative markets like New York and Las Vegas.

Malik opines that $300 million is a drop in the bucket for the 700MHz auction.

Alltel also made clear its interest in the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction, reports RCR News. In its filings with the FCC, Alltel urged the FCC to ignore a “last-minute, self-serving” plan from Frontline Wireless which calls for the commission to set aside a 10-megahertz block. Alltel does not favor 10 MHz of spectrum that could be shared by public-safety users. Alltel wants it all.

Related 700 MHz DailyWireless stories include; 700MHz Battle Begins, Google to FCC: Real-time Auction?, AT&T “Open” to 700MHz — Not, Oregon’s $665M Wireless Net Killed, AWS: It’s Done, Leap Into AWS Phone Service, John Malone in Space and 700 MHZ Spectrum Grab?.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 at 11:40 am.