MONTREAL – Cogeco Communications added to its spectrum holdings in Ontario this week after buying ten spectrum licences in the 2500 MHz paired spectrum band from Kian Telecom for $8 million.
The licenses cover a population of over 1.5 million residents in non-metropolitan areas scattered across Eastern and Southern Ontario.
Innovation, Science & Economic Development (ISED) approved the licence transfer on Thursday after determining that the move would “not result in a significant change in spectrum concentration in the licence areas.”
“This acquisition marks another step in a disciplined approach to providing wireless services to our customers,” said Cogeco’s SVP strategy and chief technology officer Luc Noiseux, in the announcement. “These holdings offer a nice addition to those recently won in our footprint from ISED’s residual auction.”
Cogeco also announced that Kian Telecom president Amir Bigloo is joining the company as advisor to the office of the CTO.
“I look forward to assisting Cogeco Communications in bringing more competition to Canada’s mobile wireless market,” added Bigloo.
Cogeco added that the spectrum acquisition price is not part of its financial guidance for fiscal 2018 as published in its first quarter results.
