Financial Post: Industry Minister Moore blocks Bell and Rogers from obtaining Nextwave’s wireless spectrum

Ottawa has blocked telecom giants Bell and Rogers from gobbling up even more scarce and valuable wireless spectrum. Let's keep up the pressure on Industry Minister Moore to rein in Big Telecom at https://openmedia.ca/gatekeepers Article by Christine Dobby for Financial Post TORONTO – Ottawa has blocked a bid by two of Canada’s largest wireless carriers to scoop up more cellular airwaves, taking the opportunity again to drive home its policy on the industry.

Ottawa has blocked telecom giants Bell and Rogers from gobbling up even more scarce and valuable wireless spectrum. Let's keep up the pressure on Industry Minister Moore to rein in Big Telecom at https://openmedia.ca/gatekeepers

Article by Christine Dobby for Financial Post

TORONTO – Ottawa has blocked a bid by two of Canada’s largest wireless carriers to scoop up more cellular airwaves, taking the opportunity again to drive home its policy on the industry.

Thursday’s decision was relatively minor, but Industry Minister James Moore used it to reiterate he will not look favourably on the country’s three largest players accumulating spectrum licences outside of public auctions.

The decision is another indication he will also remain firm on blocking Telus Corp. from acquiring the airwaves of beleaguered startup carrier Mobilicity.

“Telus looks set to be rejected based on this,” said Dvai Ghose, head of research at Canaccord Genuity. “The Mobilicity thing will come to a head – there’s a very important point we’re going to reach and [Thursday’s decision] is a microcosm of that.”

Industry Canada denied an application by Inuksuk Wireless Partnership – a joint venture between Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. – to purchase 83 licences for spectrum in the 2300-megahertz band earmarked in part for the provision of high-speed rural Internet access.

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