WINNIPEG — Xplornet’s long-awaited move into the wireless market in Manitoba is now official, with the introduction of its Xplore Mobile brand on Wednesday and the announcement its wireless service will launch this fall.
The unveiling of the Xplore Mobile wireless brand comes a year and a half after Xplornet struck a deal with Bell MTS to acquire 40 MHz of wireless spectrum in Manitoba — one of the stipulations of Bell MTS’s merger back in early 2017 was the two companies had to transfer some of their wireless customers and assets to other competitors, such as Xplornet and Telus, in order to gain government approval of the merger.
As part of its spectrum transfer agreement with Bell MTS in 2017, Xplornet also was given access to the Bell MTS network for three years. Then, nine months ago, Xplornet acquired rural broadband company NetSet, which had existing business operations in Winnipeg and Brandon, Man.
Xplornet now says its Xplore Mobile service is on target to launch across Manitoba this fall with the opening of six retail locations in Brandon and Winnipeg. The service will operate on an established, 4G LTE network, the company said in a news release. In addition, Xplornet said it plans to invest $100 million in Manitoba, building a state-of-the-art wireless network.
According to the company’s news release, the Xplore Mobile service is being built on the values of “fairness, simplicity and transparency”. While creating its new wireless brand, the company engaged with potential customers through the opening of two pop-up stores in Winnipeg and Brandon.
“Xplore Mobile reflects the importance of our heritage and the values we share with the community,” said Allison Lenehan, president and CEO of Xplornet Communications, in the news release. “In getting to know our future customers these past few months, we found they shared our desire to bring a sense of fairness to the wireless marketplace in Manitoba.”
Every aspect of Xplore Mobile has been designed with the Manitoba customer at the core, the company said, from the service plans to be offered to its inviting retail locations. Service plan details have not yet been announced.
