Canada announces auction results
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Canada announces auction results

The Canadian government has raised $4.76 billion from its 700MHz band spectrum auction which awarded 97 licences to eight successful bidders.

Canada’s three leading national carriers acquired spectrum in all provinces, with Rogers spending $2.97 billion for 22 licences, Telus paying $1.03 billion for 30 licences, and Bell $510.4 million for 31 licenses. The remaining licence winners include Videotron, MTS, SaskTel, Bragg, and Feenix.

Winning bidders have until March 5 to pay 20% of their bid, while the remaining sum is due April 2.

The auction which was designed to increase competition in the country has resulted in the possibility of a fourth player in every region according to industry minister James Moore.

“Our wireless policy is designed to benefit Canadian consumers, first and foremost,” said Moore while announcing the results. “With this auction our policy has achieved its goal.”

Canada has announced that it will hold another auction in April 2015 for mobile licences in the 2500MHz spectrum band.

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