It's estimated that within the next five years, more than half the information on the Internet will travel over a wireless connection at some point. Wireless services require spectrum, which is the invisible infrastructure that carries our information. Spectrum has been called the oxygen of our mobile economy.
The 2500 MHz spectrum band is ideal for providing broadband services in rural areas, and it can be used to deliver fast, reliable service on the latest smartphones and tablets. Bidding in the 2500 MHz commercial wireless spectrum auction began on April 14, 2015. Eleven companies were qualified to bid in the auction, and 302 of 318 licences were awarded to nine of those participants, with a total value of $755.37 million. The revenue from this auction will be reinvested in priorities that matter to Canadians.
This auction was designed to benefit consumers and encourage competition. It featured spectrum caps and smaller geographic licence areas to ensure that four or more wireless carriers, as well as rural Internet service providers, had the opportunity to hold 2500 MHz spectrum licences in every area of the country.
With the conclusion of the 2500 MHz auction, the amount of spectrum available to provide mobile services to consumers has grown by almost 60 percent since early 2014. This is the largest amount of spectrum ever released in such a short time in Canada, allowing Canadians and their families to benefit from the latest technologies and world-class services.
The 2500 MHz and other recent spectrum auctions complement other government initiatives, such as the Connecting Canadians program and the Digital Canada 150 strategy, that are designed to make Canada a more digital and connected nation.
