Wireless Number Portability and a Spectrum Auction – Canada finally catching up?
As many of you may know, March 14, 2007 is the day when Canada finally gets wireless number portability. It’s about time! Minister of Industry Canada, Maxime Bernier, has also recently announced that there will be a spectrum auction around Q1 2008. Could this mean that we’re finally going to get a real nationwide 4th carrier? From a consumer standpoint, I’m very happy to see these developments. The only barrier that stands in the way of a bigshot GSM carrier from entering Canada is the foreign ownership regulations. If those are amended then hopefully we can see another GSM carrier with the coffers to build an extensive network nationwide and the leverage over handset vendors to bring the latest and greatest to the Great White North. But I bet what’s going to happen is that we’ll see one of the cable companies (read Videotron or Shaw) buy up spectrum and try to launch their wireless service.
As an employee at a wireless carrier, I see these developments as challenges and/or opportunities for us, but I can’t help but be pulled to the consumer perspective…where more competition means cheaper rate plans and better service (hopefully).
Now only if I can somehow get out of my Bell contract…
Mon Amigo!!
Talks are still ongoing here in Mexico as to how tha heck the’ll implement number portability. I reckon it will take them a good year to come down with a plan. We shall see.
It get tougher when the owner of the biggest wireless telephony company in the country, is the same owner of the biggest land line company (formerly state owned)… and the bastard happens to be the third world’s richest man. Voila. Can you believe the third world’s richest man is Mexican?
Hope he follows the example of Gates and Buffet cause he is surely not known for his community orientation in Mexico. He keeps a fairly low profile.
Aight mate. Hope all is dandy.
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