700Mhz spectrum auction

[Nehkara]

The announcement will be livestreamed here:

http://watch.bnn.ca/#clip706871

[Nehkara]

Why do press conferences always start late?

They know what they are going to say... just go out there and say it!

[Nehkara]

Canada raised $5.27 billion in the 700 mHz spectrum auction.

The prediction had been $1.8 to 2.5 billion.

[Nehkara]

97 licenses to 8 companies.

[FlameOn]

Dangit I can't stream this at work. Which 8 companies? I really hope the Big 3 didn't get most >.<

[Nehkara]

Videotron is the new big player.

Quebecor’s Videotron unit has secured a prime block of 700 MHz spectrum in southern Ontario and eastern Ontario. It’s also won prime blocks in Alberta, BC. and Quebec. Prime blocks are those for which there is already technology available to employ the spectrum.

Roger Communications spent by far the most on spectrum, buying licenses for 22 markets in the country at a price of $3.3-billion. Telus Corp. spent $1.1-billion for 31 licenses and Bell Inc. spent $565.8-million for 31 licenses.

[Nehkara]

[RedMileDJ]

http://mobilesyrup.com/2014/02/19/go...lberta-and-bc/

[Nehkara]

[FlameOn]

Fricking hell. Well sad day for consumers yet again. Really not much hope now for the Canadian cell phone industry. Hopefully the CRTC pulls an FCC and breaks up one of the big three some other way one of these days. Prices aren't going to come down without the competition and we'll continue paying some of the highest mobile prices in the world.

Though the Videotron bids in Alberta are interesting. Hopefully they do something with it

[Nehkara]

Well hopefully since Videotron bought spectrum in Alberta and BC, they intend to use it.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

So hopefully Wind will sell out to Videotron eventually?

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

So hopefully Wind will sell out to Videotron eventually?

I'm hoping that Videotron does a buyout of wind and mobilicity to become a viable fourth vendor. Or CRTC breaks up the big three somehow.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

I'm hoping that Videotron does a buyout of wind and mobilicity to become a viable fourth vendor. Or CRTC breaks up the big three somehow.

I was thinking this same thing.

[Nehkara]

[FlameOn]

So Videotron's gotten a huge chunk of prime paired spectrum using existing tech that focuses on Canada's largest markets while Rogers seems to have bought the most spectrum but for every market available. Bell and Telus seem to have gotten mostly un-paired spectrum.

Looks like Videotron is looking to make a huge push out of Quebec. If they can swoop in and buy Wind and Mobilicity, they will have all the towers they need as well.

[bubbsy]

unpaired spectrum is better for asymmetric traffic (ie. broadband) whereas paired is more optimal for voice (more symmetric uplink/downlink traffic)...

Is it fair to assume that bell & telus are focussing their energies more towards their mobile broadband capabilities?

also, Curious as to why shaw doesn't make a push, and compete on the triple-play service provider scale with the big boys?

[Azure]

Yep. Videotron is your 4th carrier. Not going to be so bad in the end it seems.

Hopefully they offer the same plans everywhere that they offer in Quebec.

[Azure]

I'd imagine because Shaw doesn't own anything, they deem the venture too costly to invest into.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

unpaired spectrum is better for asymmetric traffic (ie. broadband) whereas paired is more optimal for voice (more symmetric uplink/downlink traffic)...

Is it fair to assume that bell & telus are focussing their energies more towards their mobile broadband capabilities?

also, Curious as to why shaw doesn't make a push, and compete on the triple-play service provider scale with the big boys?

Shaw bought a bunch of spectrum in 2008 and tried to sell it to Rogers last year. No idea if the sale actually went through yet.