Software, Facilitation, and Consulting Services for High-Stakes Online Auctions

After participating in several of IAL's successful auctions, UNI Naming & Registry (UNR) selected IAL to facilitate an auction to sell 23 top level domain (TLDs) names, including .GAME, .CLICK, and .AUDIO among others. IAL handled all aspects of the auction as an independent facilitator. This meant taking on all facets of auction design, stakeholder communication, software development, a secure data room, handling bidder deposits and acting as the escrow agent. To engage bidders from the cryptocurrency community, IAL facilitated the minting of Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with a custom smart contract, and cross listing them on OpenSea, the largest platform for trading NFTs. The auction resulted in gross proceeds of about 40 million USD.

The telecommunications regulator of Slovenia, AKOS, selected Innovative Auctions to support their 7-band spectrum auction held in April 2021, one of the most complex spectrum auctions ever held in Europe. Together with our subcontractor Copenhagen Economics, we provided auction design, stakeholder communications support, auction software, bidder training, and auction management services. The auction concluded after 7 days of bidding on April 14, 2021, with total revenues in excess of 160 million EUR.

In partnership with Power Auctions LLC, we provided software, testing, training, and auction support for the 26 GHz spectrum auction in Australia. The millimeter wave auction ran from 12 April 2021 to 21 April 2021, with revenues to the government totaling over 600 million AUD. We continue to support the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with their future auction needs under a long-term contract.

T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom, hired us to design, implement, and facilitate an auction for a portfolio of over 160 patents related to online navigation. The planned auction is part of DT’s effort to find new approaches for monetizing their underutilized IP more effectively. We continue to work with DT to refine approaches and strategies for IP monetizations in ways that are consistent with fostering innovation in the telecommunications sector.

We facilitated an auction to sell the top level domains .CAR, .CARS, and .AUTO, along with the $2 million a year revenue stream these assets have been producing. The auction resulted in the sale of what was the most valuable package of generic top level domain assets ever auctioned at the time by a private party. The auction finished in one day and the assets were paid for and transferred within 3 days.

For the owner of the .INSURANCE top level domain, fTLD, we facilitated an auction for premium second level domains. The novel "self-selecting" auction format we designed and implemented produced a competitive selection process so that only the assets with the most competition were offered for sale. This mechanism allowed the seller to set lower reserve prices without the associated risk.

For the Norwegian Telecommunications regulator, NKOM, we provided auction consulting, software, and auction management service for selling the "Riksblokk II" broadcast license. This relatively small dynamic auction concluded in 1 day, even though the winning price exceeded the start price by a factor of more than 20.

We designed, implemented, and then operated Applicant Auction, a series of private auctions for top-level domains. Our team handled the entire process from bidder training to conducting the auctions, including contracting, escrow, training, auction management, and settlement. Deloitte LLP (London) audited our processes and the auction results. Revenues were in the hundreds of millions of USD.

Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission latest multi-band auction utilized a radically modern and efficient auction design. IAL developed a bespoke auction software system to match the new design, and provided on-site staff and bidder training as well as software manuals. A team of auction experts from Innovative Auctions was present on NBTC premises as fully responsible Auction Manager. The auction was run in February, 2020 and concluded successfully, allocating spectrum in the 700MHz, 2600MHz, and 26GHz bands with total revenues of about 3.2 billion USD.

In partnership with Power Auctions LLC, we provided auction design advice, software, testing, training, and auction support for two auctions in 2017 and 2018 to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

In 2017, the multiband residual lots auction concluded successfully on

December 12.

In 2018, the ACMA conducted the 3.6 GHz band spectrum auction in a novel enhanced SMRA format. The auction consisted of three stages and ended on December 6, yielding revenues of 850m AUD.

We continue to support the ACMA with their future auction needs under a long term contract.

Innovative Auctions developed a bespoke SMRA auction software system for the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's 2018 spectrum auctions for the 1800 MHz and 900 MHz bands in Thailand. The software system also included an interface for media covering the auction. In addition to this, we provided user manuals and on-site bidder training. A team of auction experts from Innovative Auctions was present at the NBTC's premises during the two auctions as fully responsible Auction Manager. The two auctions concluded successfully in August and October.

The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries hired IAL to provide software for the sale of licenses to run sustainable aquaculture farms for salmon along the coast of Norway. We worked together with our partner Copenhagen Economics to develop a suitable auction design and then provided a customized auction system. Prior to the auction, we held a software training session for the Ministry, and followed with on-site support for the management of mock and live auctions. We also prepared Auction Manager and Bidder manuals and provided blockchain-based non-repudiation assurance.

The auction yielded total revenues of 2.9 billion NOK (about USD $350 million).

Autobahn Tank & Rast, the operator of the largest network of service stations along german motorways, engaged us in connection with the sale of 5-year licenses to distribute fuel to a majority of their service stations. We provided a customized auction system, held bidder training sessions and test auctions, and managed the auctions themselves. We also provided the help-desk throughout the process. We supported Tank & Rast in complying with regulatory obligations by providing a transparent auction system and blockchain-based non-repudiation assurance.

We were selected by SUTEL to provide comprehensive service to operate Costa Rica's first spectrum auction, for licenses in the 1800/1900/2100 MHz bands. The scope of work included a review of the auction design and auction rules, software, testing, training, auction management, and support. The auction was held on-site, and we provided dedicated private network infrastructure, biometric authentication, and physical security.

In partnership with Power Auctions LLC, we provided software, testing, training, and auction support for the recent 1800 MHz auction to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The auction was held in SMRA format, and concluded successfully on February 4, 2016. We continue to support the ACMA with their future auction needs under a long term contract.

Innovative Auctions was engaged by the spectrum regulator of Finland to develop the auction software system for its 700 MHz spectrum auction in 2016. We customized software to meet the requirements of the auction design, performed quality assurance testing, security hardening, and managed all hosting and delivery of the software over the internet. We trained government staff on the operation of the auction and supported the auction management team on-site during the live auction.

We developed a customized auction system, provided bidder training and support, managed and supported the live auctions, and provided related services. We produced materials for bidder training, led the bidder training sessions on-site, and produced the user manuals. A team of consultants from IAL was on-site for all three auctions as the fully responsible Auction Manager. Auction Revenues in the first auction alone exceeded USD $2,000,000,000. 

For a government agency in Singapore, we custom-developed an experimental auction system to inform policy decisions. Details are currently confidential.