Dish Issuing $4B in Debt for Spectrum, Wireless Buildout

Dish Network's DBS subsidiary will offer $4 billion in senior secured notes, using the proceeds to fund the "potential purchase" of wireless spectrum licenses and for the buildout of "wireless infrastructure," said an 8-K Monday. Existing Dish wireless spectrum licenses may be used as collateral for the "intercompany loan," it said. The money potentially will be used to buy licenses in the 3.45 GHz auction, said New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin. “While there can be no guarantee that this is for 3.45 GHz spectrum, the filing specifies the proceeds will be used ‘in order to finance the potential purchase of wireless spectrum licenses and for general corporate purposes, including the buildout of wireless infrastructure,’” he said: “We don’t think Dish needs outside funding for the network right now." He thinks it's "certainly plausible this is for 3.45 GHz spectrum, given the auction’s price has nearly settled (the auction will continue through technical procedures for at least another month, however),” he said.