The (multiple round) wireless spectrum auction is over.
Telus, Rogers and Bell bought up more of the wireless spectrum along with three regional CATV (cable) operators – Shaw Communications Inc. (West), Videotron-Quebecor Inc. and Bragg Communications Inc. (Atlantic Canada).
New entrants include
DAVE: a Bitove-Paul (Microsoft co-founder) Allen JV
and
Globalive: the Canadian distributor of YAK long distance (with Eurasian partner backing). Although the latter claims to have ambitious plans for building a 3G /4G network, Rogers may still maintain the GSM monopoly that delivered the iphone to their stable.
In any case, it will be several years before the new entrants are able to launch so there's unlikely to be much price-competition in the interim!
Can the Canadian market support 5 main national providers along with the regional cable companies (especially on top of the multibrands (Fido, Solo and Koodoo) and re-sellers (Virgin))?
More details:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080721.wwireless0721/EmailBNStory/Business/home
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Th Industry Minister is claiming that cellphone prices will come down now that several new carriers will start to deliver services. As if that was the government's main interest in conducting the auction, rather than reaping a $4.2 billion windfall in auction proceeds!
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/07/22/tech-spectrum.html
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