New Canadian Operator Expected to Launch in H2 2009
Globalive Communications, one of the winners in Canada's recent radio spectrum auction says that it expects to launch its new network in the second half of next year. The company paid CA$442 million for licenses which would cover the entire country - except Quebec.
The company is still tendering for the network infrastructure and is currently down to a shortlist of two bidders. The intention is to launch a test service with "friendly customers" in the second quarter of 2009, with the commercial launch a few months later.
The company is setting up a website which it will use to garner opinion from customers prior to the commercial launch.
The idea for the unique, new website emerged organically: “After the end of the wireless auction, I spent days calling customers from Vancouver to St. John’s to ask how they felt about their cell phone service and I was amazed at how much people had to say,” said Anthony Lacavera, Chairman and CEO of Globalive. “Wireless is an issue that Canadians are extremely passionate about because they have a true stake in it."
Globalive says that it is also hoping to hear from technically savvy ‘arm-chair engineers’ who are interested in sharing their advice on network design and architecture, wireless vendors and supplier relationships.
Globalive, which already offers internet and landline services to around a million customers partnered with Egypt based Orascom Telecom Holding to be able to bid in the spectrum auction. Although Orascom largely financed the payment for the radio licenses, Canadian regulations restrict the firm to holding a minority stake. A review held earlier this year by the government has recommended lifting that restriction though, and it is widely expected that Orascom would then seek to increase its holding in the company.
The Canadian government's auction of wireless spectrum raised a total of C$4.25 billion when it ended after 331 rounds in July.
Figures from the Mobile World subscriber database notes that of the incumbent operators - Bell Mobility ended the first quarter with 6.25 million customers, compared to 7.58 million for Rogers Wireless and 5.66 million for Telus.
On the web: WirelessSoapbox - Mobile World
Posted to the site on 4th September 2008
