Cell Phone Aution Ends - The Good and the Bad

[intercollector]

The infamous auction has ended.

Here is a good overview of who got what:

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/business/story.html?id=670090

The Good News:
- They raised $4.25 billion in revenue.
- The 40% for new entrants is a nice change. Competition should be nice.
- Globalive Communications Corp gained spectrum in all provinces. The look to join the "big 3" to become the "big 4".
- Bell and Telus have gained spectrum, and possibly could use it for deployment of GSM.

The Bad News:
- Rogers, Bell, and Telus all retain the majority of the spectrum. They will probably be the only GSM providers.
- Shaw Communications, a horrible cable provider IMO, has entered the market on the west coast. If they become a main provider on the west coast, the consumers pretty much gain nothing.
- None of the major US companies have chosen to enter our market.
- Sub licensing deals can start now, which potentially could negate all of this.


Note: Basically these lists are just IMO. Please add to them, as feel free to debate about them.

[Desolatax]

Hah, one of my friends was right for a change. He told me last September that Shaw will be entering the cell phone game here in western Canada. I wonder if Bell and Telus will actually start deploying GSM alongside their CDMA network.

[intercollector]

Hah, one of my friends was right for a change. He told me last September that Shaw will be entering the cell phone game here in western Canada. I wonder if Bell and Telus will actually start deploying GSM alongside their CDMA network.

I would say that would be their best option with the pressure they are getting not being able to offer some of the phones out there. Especially with the iPhone, how many uninformed Telus/Bell customers are pissed cause they don't offer it, and are now researching why they don't offering it and learning about the CDMA vs. GSM battle. I think they got lucky when initially Motorola offered CDMA versions, and then subsequently Blackberry as well. The iPhone will probably be the final nail in the coffin for CDMA in Canada (about bloody time).

[Aznkid2000]

dam no US provider coming to Canada.....

we won't get some of the cool phones that the US gets, but have to cross the border to get it...

[Lava]

IMO shaw isn't that bad, I look at me downloading 200-300+ gigs a month, and no throttling, I don't mind.

I sure hope companies enter the GSM market, if this is true, rogers will finally have someone to compete with, and the new GSM company will have to have low prices if they want people to actually buy their service. IMO, this is a win/win situation for consumers.

[aznangel]

+ 1
any new company going in the GSM market is a benefit for us because Rogers will no longer be a monopoly

[perfectg]

IMO, shaw is far better than telus tv, rogers, and even bells sat service.

[intercollector]

IMO, shaw is far better than telus tv, rogers, and even bells sat service.

As a cable provider, I'd have to disagree. Their HD quality for audio and video is horrendous compared to Bell, as they clearly have not provided enough bandwidth per channel. But then again, that's a whole nother debate that has been argued to death here:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36

I will concede that their internet service has been without problems, although their pricing without bundling could be better.

[Madchester]

Hah, one of my friends was right for a change. He told me last September that Shaw will be entering the cell phone game here in western Canada. I wonder if Bell and Telus will actually start deploying GSM alongside their CDMA network.

The CBC suggests that Shaw's real motivation is to hold onto its share of the spectrum as an asset and selling it the highest bidder in the near future. They're not really concerned with building a new wireless network in Western Canada. Since these wireless auctions occur once in a blue moon, Shaw's additional capacity will be very attractive to the Big Three.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/05/26/tech-spectrum.html

[lockec]

+ 1
any new company going in the GSM market is a benefit for us because Rogers will no longer be a monopoly

I agree, I worked for shaw for a few years when they were back in Richmond Hill, great company to work for and they really do care about the customer. We "swapped" assets with Rogers and I became a Rogers employee, I quit after being treated like sheep. Seeing the way they treat customers from the other end is brutal. They just love to figure out ways to squeeze every penny from the customer...

I would say Shaw coming in is a good thing. They did have a decent paging service back in the day.

[Madchester]

^
I don't see the point of Shaw being relegated as a regional wireless provider, especially after it became regionalized with that Vancouver-Toronto trade with Rogers. I think the CBC's commentary sheds more truth to the company's intentions.

[chemeng]

This is all very early, any real changes at best 2-3 years, I used the pressure of these auctions to get a sweet two year contract...with Telus:( oh well nothing will happen in 2 years...(hopefully)