OTTAWA – The government has finally decided on the date – as well as some of the ground rules – for the upcoming 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction.
Industry Minister Christian Paradis announced this morning that the 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction will take place November 19, which is months later than the government’s initial proposal of the first half of 2013. He also outlined a number of conditions the government is placing on the auction in a move to “ensure that Canadian consumers continue to benefit from more choice in the wireless sector and faster wireless speeds at better prices.”
Those conditions include:
1. Expansion and extension of the requirement for wireless companies to provide roaming on their networks to competitors, with the intent of increasing competition. “This will ensure that all Canadians, even if they are away from home, will still have service regardless of their provider,” said Paradis. “No Canadian should be left stranded simply because he or she is outside the range of the chosen service provider.”
2. Restriction of the rules to increase cellphone tower sharing among providers, reducing cell tower proliferation, major concern across the country.
3. The requirement that at least four providers must be able to acquire spectrum in every region for the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction.
4. A promise to review the policy on spectrum licence transfers with the objective of promoting competition in the wireless sector.
In an effort to provide wireless providers with “greater certainty” about the government’s plan to meet the growing demand for mobile services by Canadians, Minister Paradis released an Industry Canada report entitled Commercial Mobile Spectrum Outlook. On its website, Industry Canada states that “after the upcoming 700 MHz auction on November 19, 2013, and the 2500 MHz auction the following year, Canada will be more than two thirds of the way towards its target of allocating 750 MHz of commercial mobile spectrum by the end of 2017. The government has identified more spectrum that could be used for commercial wireless services over the next five years. We will work with all Canadians to use spectrum to increase coverage, promote competition and ensure that the latest technologies are available.”
“Our government’s priority is to provide greater wireless coverage at lower rates for consumers,” said Minister Paradis. “Through these and many other concrete actions, our government wants to provide all Canadians, no matter where they live, with access to world-class wireless service they can afford.”
Public consultations start today, with comments due by April 3.
