OTTAWA – Industry Canada has set the wheels in motion for a wireless bandwidth spectrum auction in early 2008.
Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, on Friday announced the launch of a public consultation on a framework to auction spectrum in the 2-GHz range, including spectrum for advanced wireless services. This consultation is the first step in a process leading to an auction of spectrum licences, anticipated to occur in early 2008. A total of 105 MHz of spectrum will be made available.
"Advanced wireless services are vital communication resources for building a strong networked economy in Canada," said Bernier, in the press release. "This consultation solicits input that will assist my department in developing a framework to foster a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace and ensure that the Canadian wireless industry remains in step with international developments."
Speculation is that the ministry will favour newcomers to try and build competition further than our three facilities-based wireless providers in Canada.
The notice announcing the publication of this paper entitled, Consultation on a Framework to Auction Spectrum in the 2 GHz range including Advanced Wireless Services, is available on Industry Canada’s Strategis web site (http://www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/spectrum).
The paper addresses competition issues in the provision of high-mobility services such as whether to adopt measures to enable market entry by new players and whether existing operators should be mandated to offer roaming on their existing networks, and technical issues for the use of the spectrum, proposed conditions of licences, the size of spectrum blocks and geographic areas, licence terms, and conditions for licence renewal.
Stakeholders are invited to address these issues and make proposals for any measures they consider appropriate. The consultation process will also include a "reply comment" phase, which will give an opportunity to challenge the positions and assertions of other parties.
"Our role is to help foster a healthy and competitive telecommunications market that encourages and rewards innovation, and from which consumers will benefit the most. I invite all interested parties to make their views known," added Bernier.
