3,800 MHz auction nets $2.2B in preliminary results

Canada’s telecom industry have spent some $2.16 billion on the 3,800 MHz band of spectrum, according to preliminary results released Thursday by the Department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED). Telus Corp. was the biggest spender, shelling out $619.6 million for 1,430 licences, covering a population of 32.9 million. Rogers Communications Inc. covered the widest population, 35 million, with 860 licences purchased for $474.4 million. Rogers was the biggest spender in the 3,500 auction, shelling out almost $3.33 billion for 325 licenses covering a population of just under 35 million people. The 3,500 MHz band which is widely seen as crucial to the roll out of 5G networks, netted $8.9 billion in 2021. “The combination creates consistent and reliable 5G coverage in both urban and remote areas. Adding 3800 MHz to the national Rogers 5G network will further support consumers and businesses with enterprise mobility, virtual private networks and 5G Wireless Home Internet in rural and remote areas. BCE Inc. was the second biggest spender, coming in at almost $518.1 million for 939 licences, covering 34.6 million Canadians. ”By operating Bell's 5G+ network on 3800 MHz wireless spectrum, complemented with the existing 3500 MHz spectrum, Bell will deliver faster wireless speeds for things like downloading and streaming high-resolution videos, as well as uploading content to share on social media or for cloud photo backups. Bell's 5G+ spectrum will also allow for greater capacity to manage more devices that connect to Bell's wireless network and provide lower latency, which means real-time communication and immersive experiences can take place with lightning-fast response time,” the company wrote in its news release. Quebecor Inc. which has expanded out West with Shaw’s Freedom Mobile, has purchased $298.9 million worth of spectrum, acquiring 305 licences covering a population of almost 28.9 million. Some of its purchases include Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, East and West Kootenay, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Kamloops, and Prince George. Cogeco Communications Inc. acquired 99 licences for $190 million which will serve 17.5 million Canadians. Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. invested $10.2 million to acquire 45 licences that cover more than one million Canadians. Bragg Communications Inc.’s Eastlink spent $9.9 million for 187 licences covering almost 3 million people. —Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca

3,800 MHz auction nets $2.2B in preliminary results

News | November 30, 2023

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3,800 MHz auction nets $2.2B in preliminary results

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