Industry Canada changes foreign ownership rules, but no set-asides for new entrants

By Perry Hoffman

RUSSELL, ON - All stakeholders with an interest in the pending 700 MHz and 2500 MHz spectrum auctions got a little of what they wanted Wednesday afternoon in a set of highly anticipated rules released by Industry Canada. Speaking from Russell, just outside of Ottawa, Industry Minister Christian Paradis confirmed that Canada's 700 MHz auction will take place in the first half of 2013, and that the sale of 2500 MHz bandwidth will follow within a year. While new entrant wireless providers such as Wind Mobile and Mobilicity didn’t get the set-aside of spectrum they were seeking, they will be guaranteed a...