Ottawa, June 24, 2015—The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry, today made the following statement:
"Today our government approved a series of spectrum licence transfers between Rogers, Shaw, Mobilicity and WIND. These transfers will result in at least four wireless firms in every region of the country being able to offer the latest technology, world-class service and more choice to all Canadians and their families.
"Wireless spectrum is a vital public resource, and our government has released more of it than all other previous governments combined. Our objective in doing so has been to promote more competition in Canada's wireless sector. In 2006, 98 percent of available spectrum was held by Canada's largest wireless firms. Today, thanks to our policies and recent spectrum auctions, new wireless companies now hold approximately 25 percent of the total wireless spectrum available—creating the conditions for more competition in our wireless sector than ever before.
"The approval of these spectrum licence transfers is a win for Canadian consumers. A new wireless competitor has secured valuable spectrum it needs, and high-quality spectrum that went unused for almost a decade will now be deployed for the betterment of all Canadians.
"Our government has one goal: to take deliberate, concrete steps to create more choice, lower prices and better wireless service for Canadians and their families. Today's approval of these licence transfers delivers on this objective."