TORONTO – An equal and fair spectrum auction that allows established wireless providers and newcomers to play by the same rules is critical to Rogers’ roll out of its new Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, said the company’s president of communications, Rob Bruce.
"Those who have suggested that companies like Rogers shouldn’t have fair and equal access to this spectrum are misguided," Bruce said during his the opening keynote Tuesday morning at the 2011 Canadian Telecom Summit. "Restrictions on the 700 MHz band auction would be unfair to our nine million wireless customers who have every right to access a truly national, robust LTE network in both urban and rural markets."
Rogers said in April that it will launch an LTE network this year in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa, with more markets to come in 2012. The 700 MHz spectrum, currently in use by Canadian analog TV broadcasters, delivers better in-building penetration and improved coverage in rural and remote areas.
Bruce also called on the new Conservative Government and Industry Minister Christian Paradis to adopt three key principles as a framework for Canada’s digital strategy:
1. Adopt a regulatory regime that rewards and incents those that have invested, and are investing, to make our nation stronger in both urban and rural markets;
2. Make more spectrum available, more quickly; and
3. Create a level playing field for all participants, by adopting public policy that applies equally to all participants regardless of size.
"We urgently need regulation that doesn’t prop up one company, or one industry, at the expense of another," Bruce continued. "If you look to other sectors with limited or precious resources, our government has a long track record of creating a level playing field for these sectors – why would it take a different approach to the valuable and limited 700 MHz spectrum auction?"
