Canada’s fourth-largest carrier, Wind Mobile, will participate in the country’s AWS-3 and 2,500 MHz spectrum auctions, scheduled for March and April respectively.
“The Canadian government has taken positive steps toward ensuring that precious…
Canada’s fourth-largest carrier, Wind Mobile, will participate in the country’s AWS-3 and 2,500 MHz spectrum auctions, scheduled for March and April respectively.
“The Canadian government has taken positive steps toward ensuring that precious wireless spectrum is put to competitive use across Canada,” Wind Mobile founder and chairman Anthony Lacavera said in a statement.
The senior executive, who last September led an MBO to acquire VimpelCom’s stake in the operator, added: “Our participation in the upcoming AWS-3 and 2,500 MHz auctions reaffirms our long-standing commitment to build a competitive wireless industry in Canada.”
The Canadian government has set aside 60% of the spectrum available in the AWS-3 auction for smaller players and new entrants. Wind Mobile and bankrupt rival Mobilicity are the only two players that qualify to bid on those set-aside licences in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.
Earlier this week, debt-ridden Mobilicity which has been under creditor’s protection since September 2013, reportedly confirmed that it would also take in part in the AWS-3 auction, due to kick off on 3 March, after securing the required financing to pay the C$62m (US$49.3m) bidding deposit.
However, according to court papers, the company will opt out of the 2,500 MHz tender, which does not set aside spectrum for new entrants.
In the last few years, Canada’s government has tried to fuel competition in the country’s mobile market by challenging the dominance of the three main operators: Bell Canada, Rogers, and Telus.
Critics of its fourth-carrier policy have argued that it puts off foreign investments and imposes restrictions which are detrimental to a free-market economy.
