The Canadian government has yet to announce the rules that will govern the next spectrum auction but two carriers are already threatening to sit out the auction. Public Mobile and WIND Mobile today warned that they could skip the auction if Industry Canada does not set aside spectrum for smaller players. “We’re not suicidal,” Wind Mobile’s CEO Anthony Lacavera said […]
Spectrum auction
Canada set to announce rules for next wireless spectrum auction?
Citing “a person familiar with the plans,” Bloomberg is reporting that the Canadian government will outline sometime in February the rules for the next spectrum auction (covering spectrum in the 700 and 2,500MHz bands). The details could be made available as early as February 13th. The auction is expected to take place later this year but delays in announcing the […]
Still no Canadian decision on telecom foreign ownership and 700Mhz auction
Speaking today at the International Institute of Communications (IIC) Canada Conference in Ottawa, Industry Minister Christian Paradis revealed little new information about possible changes to foreign ownership rules in the telecom sector and rules for the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction. He outlined one government expectation: That Canadian carriers will be expected to offer rural Canadians the same services as to […]
Former Orascom chairman regrets getting involved in Canada
Former Orascom Telecom chairman Naguib Sawiris said in an interview that he regrets ever getting involved in Canada. WIND Mobile’s parent company Globalive received substantial financing from Orascom to help it launch in 2009. Orascom’s investment resulted in lengthy legal issues for the new Canadian carrier over its ownership status, first delaying its launch and then causing uncertainty over its […]
WIND Mobile secures CA$500 million for upcoming 700MHz auction
Canada’s next wireless auction is set to take place in late 2012. Consultations on how to conduct the next auction have been underway for some time with carriers arguing for or against setting aside spectrum for new players (as was done in 2008). At least one carrier, WIND Mobile, is already securing funds in preparation for the auction. “Provided the […]
No decision yet on telecom foreign ownership from new Canadian Industry Minister
With a majority now in hand, Canada’s Conservative government is expected to have an easier time moving forward with its political agenda. One item garnering attention this week is how the government will move forward with easing foreign ownership rules in the telecommunication sector. It had first announced this intention more than a year ago. New Industry Minister Christian Paradis […]
Canadian wireless auction ends
While I was rediscovering what it means not to have wireless, the latest Canadian wireless spectrum auction ended on July 21st, netting the Canadian government over CAD$4.2 billion, far more than had been originally predicted. Over about eight weeks, 331 bidding rounds took place for 292 licences. The final results have Rogers Wireless spending almost CAD$1 billion to secure 59 […]
List of bidders for upcoming Canadian spectrum auction announced
On May 27th, the Canadian federal government will kick off its latest wireless spectrum auction. Today, they announced the list of bidders as well as the number of spectrum licenses each is seeking. Heading up the list is a company called Niagara Networks Inc. They are seeking a total of 6,510 licenses, enough to launch a network that could cover […]