Wireless spectrum auction keeps on coming and going….
Well guys,
The wireless spectrum auction in Canada is going towards full steam. Many incumbents (Rogers, Telus and Bell) were able to secure a number of licences for about an estimated between $500-million to $1.2 billion CDN. New entrants were able to secure their own licences in a number of markets. For example, Quebecor Media was able to secure a 20Mhz licence in the Southern Ontario region. It now competes with Globalive (Yak Mobile) and a company called “6934579 Canada Inc.” As many bidders were able to secure a number of licences for the Canadian market, many rounds will come and go periodically. Shaw, the largest cable company in Western Canada leads all the bidders in the auction.
You can continue to check out the National Post’s on-going coverage about the auction by doing so here. If Paul Gigliotti and Dave Thomson (the guys of the former band, Wave) have a certain amount of money and decided to participate in the bid, they will form their own company called “WAVE wireless”! I wonder how my Londoners (Laura, Jenny, Tarin and Bobby) will feel about that….lol. Anyways, the newcomer will be revealed in the matter of weeks. Until then, stay tuned!
References:
“SpectrumWatch: Round 12 results – A three-horse-new-entrant race.” National Post. 30 May 2008. 30 May 2008. <http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpposted/archive/2008/05/30/spectrumwatch-round-12-results-a-three-horse-new-entrant-race.aspx>
“Federal wireless spectrum auction to bring more competitive cellphone market.” The Canadian Press. 30 May 2008. 30 May 2008 <http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iTZVyLz9Zl1DHmMP6eeAZ4-ZRj-Q>
“Worst of the Week: Oh Canada!.” RCR Wireless News. 29 May 2008. 30 May 2008. <http://rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080529/FREE/443445138/0/FRONTPAGE>
“Telecoms to get tough competition.” Montreal Gazette. 29 May 2008. 30 May 2008. <http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=642b8ffe-2837-4b6f-a03e-df887ac1dca6&p=2>
“Cellphone spectrum auction tops $700 million on day two.” CBC.ca. 28 May 2008. 30 May 2008. <http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/05/28/tech-spectrum.html>
“New national cell carrier unlikely from auction.” Toronto Star. 28 May 2008. 30 May 2008. <http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/431957>
