TORONTO – Mobilicity dismissed the notion that Canada’s incumbent wireless carriers require more spectrum while announcing its intention to participate in the upcoming 700 MHz auction.
“For years, Canada’s Big Three ‘tri-opoly’ have been acting like squirrels preparing for a 50-year winter”, said chairman John Bitove, in a statement. “They hoard spectrum to keep others from giving consumers an affordable choice and Canadians have been paying the price for their self-serving interests for far too long.”
In its submission, Mobilicity asked that:
-set-aside for bidders who qualify as Canadian-owned and controlled entities with less than 10% of total wireless telecommunications market revenue in their incumbent territories. (i.e. MTS Allstream is excluded in Manitoba, SaskTel is excluded in Saskatchewan);
– all of the 700 MHz spectrum be set-aside for eligible bidders;
– caps established for spectrum below 1000 MHz, and an additional regional cap be established for all frequencies (covering PCS, AWS, 2500 MHz BRS spectrum) limiting the hoarding of spectrum;
– Bell and Telus should be treated as one entity for spectrum caps given the shared nature of their national networks; and
– administrative and punitive penalties be levied for non-compliance of Licensees with roaming and site-sharing regulations.
“At the end of the day, the upcoming auction has the ability to help sustain a new competitive environment for Canadian consumers”, Bitove added. “The past practices and habits of the Big Three have to be stopped. Now is the time for the Federal Government to ensure Canada’s wireless sector has healthy competition for years to come.”
